Published: November 04, 2009 07:38 pm      

Delegation seeks to honor nation’s coal miners

West Virginia’s congressional delegation put aside partisan differences Wednesday with a resolution that would create a National Miners Day to honor the nation’s coal workers.

The resolution was offered by Sens. Robert C. Byrd and Jay Rockefeller, and Reps. Nick Rahall and Alan Mollohan, all Democrats, and the lone Republican in the delegation, Rep. Shelley Moore Capito,

Rahall told Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., that Congress needs to look at the miners themselves in the ongoing debate over the environment, efficiency and the impact of energy on national security.

“We need, for example, to pay acute attention to the effects that the decisions we make in Washington will have on the men and women, the families and the communities back home who have, for generations, provided the natural energy resources that fuel America,” Rahall said.

Rahall said Congress has for some time acknowledged its obligation to make sure miners work in safe and healthy environments.

“But I contend that we also have an obligation to do all we can to ensure that our miners simply have work,” he said.

“America has grown strong through the labor of coal miners. Their work has provided light, warmth and economic security for generations of growing American families. It has fueled the steel furnaces that built our great cities and our military might. And the labor of miners has made reality of the creative imaginings of America’s most inventive minds.”

The 3rd District congressman said the livelihoods of American coal miners are at stake, along with their way of life.

“Mining can be difficult, dangerous work, but mining is also a noble, honest profession, and miners and their families are proud of the work they do for America, as well they should be,” he said.

“We can mine and use coal more safely, more cleanly and more efficiently. And we will. Our future depends upon it.”

Byrd, the chief sponsor of the Senate resolution, said the nation owes miners “a profound thanks” for putting their lives at risk daily to make sure the lights stay on in America’s homes.

“Miners today must contend not only with health and safety hazards in the field, but uncertainty about their future,” he said.

“We owe them our earnest hard work to shape a national energy policy that will ensure their gainful employment in the coalfields for many years to come.”