SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 407
(By Senators Tomblin (Mr. President), Bowman, Browning, Chafin,
Edgell, D. Facemire, Fanning, Foster, Green, Helmick, Jenkins,
Kessler, Laird, McCabe, Minard, Oliverio, Palumbo, Plymale,
Prezioso, Snyder, Stollings, Unger, Wells, White, Williams, Yost,
Barnes, Boley, Caruth, Deem, K. Facemyer, Guills, Hall and
Sypolt)
Expressing the will of the Senate to continue its support of the
West Virginia coal industry and requesting that West
Virginia's congressional delegation resist and oppose efforts
to undermine the future of West Virginia coal.
Whereas, The coal industry provides salaries and benefits to
thousands of West Virginians; and
Whereas, The coal industry is responsible for millions of
dollars of tax revenues that are used to fund important government
services and programs; and
Whereas, The coal industry is vitally important to the
economic welfare of this state and its citizens; and
Whereas, The Legislature, with the leadership and support of
the Governor, has worked to enact legislation to ensure the future
of West Virginia coal, including the adoption of sweeping coal mine
safety reforms, planning requirements for post-mining land use, an
alternative and renewable energy portfolio featuring advanced coal technology and a regulatory framework for carbon capture and
sequestration projects; and
Whereas, Recent events at the federal level, most notably the
debate over "cap and trade" legislation in Congress and obscure
regulatory actions by the Environmental Protection Agency, are
casting a shadow of doubt and uncertainty over the future of the
coal industry in West Virginia; and
Whereas, For the sake of those individuals who depend upon
coal to support themselves and their families, the House of
Delegates, the Senate, the Governor and West Virginia's
congressional delegation must work together to secure the future of
the coal industry and with it the future of the state; therefore,
be it
Resolved by the Senate:
That the Senate hereby expresses its will to continue its
support of the West Virginia coal industry and requests that West
Virginia's congressional delegation resist and oppose efforts to
undermine the future of West Virginia coal; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Senate will continue to support
the West Virginia coal industry by encouraging measures that
protect miners and their families, provide incentives for the
development of advanced coal technologies, enhance the energy
independence of the state and the nation, protect the environment
from which coal is mined and supply consumers with cleaner and more affordable energy produced from coal; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Senate requests that West
Virginia's congressional delegation resist and oppose efforts at
the federal level to undermine the future of West Virginia's coal
industry; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward
a copy of this resolution to United States Senators Robert C. Byrd
and John D. Rockefeller IV and Representatives Nick J. Rahall, Alan
B. Mollohan and Shelley M. Capito.