HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 40
(By Delegates Williams, Caputo, Tucker and Thompson)
Recognizing the historical legacy of the coal industry in West
Virginia through the creation of "The West Virginia Coal
Miner," a statue to be located permanently on the Capitol
grounds and serving as a permanent reminder of the impact of
the coal industry on West Virginia's past, present and
future.
Whereas, Coal contributes over $3.5 billion in gross state
product to West Virginia, accounting for nearly 13% of the
State's total gross product; and
Whereas, Wages paid to West Virginians employed in the coal
industry represent 6.5% of total statewide payroll; and
Whereas, Wages paid to those employed in the coal industry
average nearly $50,000 per year, compared to an average of
$23,000 for those employed in all other industries in the State;
and
Whereas, The coal industry directly employed over 21,000 West
Virginians in 1996; and
Whereas, An additional 60,000 persons are employed in the State as a result of the indirect benefits of the industry on the
State's economy, generating another $1.3 billion in payroll; and
Whereas, Coal paid $1,981,711,636 in West Virginia severance
taxes in 1996; and
Whereas, Coal paid over $8 million to the special reclamation
fund and the DEP operating account in 1996; and
Whereas, Over $15 million in state severance taxes is
distributed directly back to local governments throughout the
State; and
Whereas, Coal also paid corporate net income, consumer sales
and business franchise taxes of over $10 million in 1996; and
Whereas, The combined West Virginia state taxes paid by the
coal industry and the coal dependent electric power industry
represent nearly 60% of the total state business tax collections;
and
Whereas, Coal is West Virginia's "Best Known Finished
Product," and is shipped to 33 states and the District of
Columbia and to 23 separate countries all over the world and this
accounts for 50% of all coal exported from the United States, the
largest contribution of any state; and
Whereas, Coal mined in West Virginia is the most valuable of
any of the 26 coal-producing states totaling nearly $4.4 billion
dollars; and
Whereas, Low cost, reliable electricity is made from coal and nearly 99% of all West Virginia electricity and 56% of the
nation's electricity is generated by coal; and
Whereas, 1996 was the largest production year in history for
West Virginia coal of 174,008,217 tons in 461 mines in 30 West
Virginia counties; and
Whereas, Since 1863 West Virginia has mined nearly 12 billion
tons of coal; and
Whereas, No state in the Union has been more dominated by one
product or natural resource than has West Virginia; and
Whereas, Since the beginning of coal mining in the early
1800s, the economy, welfare and political life of West Virginia
have been largely dependent upon the coal that lies beneath a
great portion of the state; and
Whereas, Nearly every West Virginian is affected in some way
by the state's coal industry; and
Whereas, Historically, many West Virginia residents have
earned their living by mining coal or by employment in peripheral
businesses; and
Whereas, The soil of West Virginia is stained with the blood
of coal miners who have perished in disasters at such places like
Buffalo Creek, Farmington, Monongah, Bartley, Mullens and others;
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the State of West Virginia in memory of West Virginia's
coal legacy and historical dependence shall seek the development
of a statue to be dedicated as "The West Virginia Coal Miner," in
remembrance of the impact of coal on West Virginia. The State of
West Virginia shall commence immediately to seek contributions
from coal producing companies and the United Mine Workers of
America to further the end of a permanent statue to be located on
the Capitol grounds for view by all residents of West Virginia
and tourists to the State Capitol; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the development and creation of "The
West Virginia Coal Miner," should be completed to the extent
possible without state funding.