Capito and Manchin Lead Bipartisan Effort
CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The U.S. Senate this week passed a pair of resolutions that disapprove of the two primary components of the EPA’s “Clean Power Plan.”
The bills were passed in large part through the bipartisan leadership of West Virginia Senators Capito and Manchin, who joined with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) and Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), in pushing the legislation through.
The West Virginia Coal Association lauds the Senate’s action and thanks Senators Capito and Manchin for their leadership on this vital legislation.
“This is a major step in reining in this administration’s war against coal miners, their families and their communities,” said Bill Raney, president of the West Virginia Coal Association. “America needs affordable, reliable electricity and coal is really the only fuel that can provide for that need.
“While this is a major step toward getting our people back to work, it will be an uphill battle to collect the votes needed to overturn President Obama’s almost certain veto,” Raney said. “We are here and ready to help Senators Capito, Manchin, McConnell and Heitkamp in any way we can to gain those votes.”
The two resolutions, S.J. Res. 23 and S.J. Res. 24, disapprove of two final rules issued by the Environmental Protection Agency for new and existing power plants that threaten the jobs of thousands of West Virginia coal miners along with tens of thousands of others across the country, endanger the stability of the electric grid and threatens to raise the costs of electricity far beyond the ability of many to afford it.
