On the recordMarch 5, 2014
I appreciate the ranking member of the Energy and Commerce Committee yielding me this time, especially since we do not see eye to eye on this particular piece of legislation. We do see eye to eye on numerous other issues before the Congress and the American people, such as protecting the health and safety of our Nation's coal miners and our American workers; and, indeed, we all, both sides of the aisle, share the common goal of wanting to provide clean water, clean air, and health and safety for our families each and every day of the year. In that sense, we all have that common ground. There is a fear though in the coal fields today. I really wish the distinguished Majority Whip on that side of the aisle had mentioned my home State of West Virginia, one of the largest coal-producing States in the country when he mentioned and was going district by district about the various people that are going to be affected by these proposed regulations. I do rise in support of H.R. 3826 as a cosponsor. I commend my coal country colleague, Ed Whitfield, for his leadership on this issue and bringing it through his committee. Those of us from the coal-producing regions of this country have truly become sick and tired--sick and tired--of this EPA turning out anti-coal regulations, while showing little or no appreciation of how these regulations will affect the lives and the livelihoods of the real people who have to work and live under them.…
