Abandoned Coal Mines

Floor Speech

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Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to draw attention to our Nation's abandoned coal mines.

Pennsylvania's heritage is rooted in coal. It powered an industrial revolution and won two world wars. However, as more and more coal mines continue to shut their doors, properly closing these mines is incredibly important.

Of Pennsylvania's 67 counties, 43 have abandoned mine lands. My district, Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District, has the most, nationwide. These sites are a danger to the environment and to Pennsylvania's residents.

To take action on this, I was pleased to join my colleague, Representative Matt Cartwright from Pennsylvania's Eighth Congressional District, in introducing H.R. 4248, the Abandoned Mine Land Reauthorization Act.

The Abandoned Mine Land trust fund is set to expire in September of 2021. This bill will not only reauthorize the fund for the next 15 years, but helps for economic growth in coal communities impacted by mine closures.

Since 1977, the AML program has eliminated over 46,000 open mine portals, and reauthorizing the AML trust fund is critical to continued progress.

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