U.S. Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito issue statements Friday on announced mine layoffs in West Virginia:
U.S. Senator Joe Manchin:
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) issued the following statement regarding today’s announced mine layoffs:
“First, my heart goes out to the miners who lost their jobs and the families who depended on those jobs, and to all the Americans who will pay higher energy prices because this country lacks an energy policy that fully uses all of our domestic resources to benefit our great country.“Our coal companies have ridden the ups and downs of the market for many years, but they can’t be expected to fight their own government, too. The difference between those times and now is that companies didn’t have to deal with the overreaching of an EPA that makes it impossible to build on any certainty into the future.“Especially at a time when our economy is so fragile and good-paying jobs are hard to come by, our federal government must start working with us and not against us. There’s a balance to be found between the environment and the economy, and the EPA has worked very hard to avoid finding that balance.“As Senator, I will continue to work hard with members of both political parties to reverse the EPA decisions that are jeopardizing not only our coal industry, but our way of life. One of my highest priorities is to get this Congress to rein in EPA overreach. I’m also going to fight to make sure that we have an energy policy that works and uses all our domestic resources for the benefit of this country. That’s the only thing that makes sense to me and the people of West Virginia, and that’s the only way we can keep hardworking miners on the job.”
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito:
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) issued the following statement regarding Friday’s layoffs in West Virginia’s coal industry:“Today’s announcement is a stark reminder of the impact that misguided federal policies have on the lives of real people. The administration’s continued overreach has contributed to thousands of coal miners losing their jobs in West Virginia and our neighboring states, harming local economies and families.“In West Virginia, the attack on coal mines also reduces revenues for education programs, roads and other public services. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety, I will continue to lead the fight against these regulations that have been devastating to our state.”
