Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016
Floor Speech
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Mr. GRIFFITH. Mr. Chairman, expanding the number of Appalachian States eligible for this program from three to six will allow additional States, including Virginia, to be able to participate. The committee and the subcommittee came up with a great idea. I just want to make sure it is expanded so that more States can benefit.
The Kentucky Coal Association was in this week for a press conference, and one of their members said to me at that time that the sickness that has been in Kentucky is now spreading to Virginia, and they are absolutely right.
In 1 year's time, my district has lost hundreds of coal mine jobs due to this administration's burdensome regulations on the coal industry; but it is not just the coal mine jobs. Many more jobs in related industries have also been lost.
With those jobs, jobs in things as diverse as the hardware store, the Long John Silver's--you name it--are being lost throughout the coal country of Appalachian Virginia.
The down turn of the coal industry in my district has led to many economic difficulties for many of my constituents and the local governments. I believe it is critical that we work to find ways to provide assistance throughout all of the Appalachian coal country, and my amendment would go part of the way to helping restore some economic vitality to my district.
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