House Proceeding on Apr 14th, 2010 :: 3:25:30 to 3:32:00
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3:25:11 to 3:25:31( Edit History Discussion )

Nick J. Rahall: raleigh county, west virginia, extending condolences to their families and recognizing the valiant efforts of the emergency response workers at the mine disaster. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from california, mr. miller, and the gentlewoman from washington, mrs. mcmorris rodgers, will each control 20 minutes. the chair recognizes the gentleman from california. mr. miller: m speaker, i ask unanimous consent that all

3:25:30 to 3:32:00( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Nick J. Rahall

3:25:32 to 3:25:52( Edit History Discussion )

Nick J. Rahall: members may have five legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and insert extraneous material in house resolution 1236 into the record. without objection, i recognize the gentleman from st virginia, mr. rahall, for seven minutes. the speaker pro tempore: without objectio gentleman from west virginia is recognized for seven minutes. mr. rahall: thank you, mr. speaker, and thank you, mr. chairman, george miller.

3:25:53 to 3:26:13( Edit History Discussion )

Nick J. Rahall: last week on monday, april 5, an explosion tore through the upper big branch mine in raleigh county, west virginia, taking the lives of 29 good hardworking men. it was the repeat of a recurring nightmare that has haunted the coal fields of our nation for generations and it is a tragedy that never should have occurred. immediately upon receiving news

3:26:14 to 3:26:34( Edit History Discussion )

Nick J. Rahall: of the explosion at the upper big branch mine, i rushed to the scene to be with the families. it was for me unfortunately not an unfamiliar circumstance. i have spent too many anxious hours in the aftermath of mine accidents in the midst of

3:26:35 to 3:26:55( Edit History Discussion )

Nick J. Rahall: family and friends, co-workers awaiting word. praying for the survivors to emerge from the darkness is a heartwrenching exercise. but being surrounded by such warmth and love, generosity and faith is heartwarming at the same time. the people of coal ming

3:26:56 to 3:27:16( Edit History Discussion )

Nick J. Rahall: communities, particularly those of west virginia, are a central breed. generations of these families go into these mines. for so many of these miners it's not just a job, it's a calling. they live with the knowledge that there is a risk, but they are proud to take that risk, to labor in the company of good and loyal friends to earn an honest paycheck in order to

3:27:17 to 3:27:41( Edit History Discussion )

Nick J. Rahall: provide for their families and themselves. the families of the mipers at upper big branch were such men. like coal miners throughout the ages, they did difficult work and dangerous circumstances. they labored underground in cramp conditions in the damp and the dark, but outside the mines their lives were full of life and love and joy.

3:27:42 to 3:28:02( Edit History Discussion )

Nick J. Rahall: they had wives and children and grandchildren. they hunted, they pranked and they laughed together and they experienced many warm memories and gentle sorrows. while most americans can scarcely imagine what a coal miner's day of work is really

3:28:03 to 3:28:23( Edit History Discussion )

Nick J. Rahall: like will never really understand our coal miners. we certainly appreciate what their labors have meant in our daily lives. the toil of these coal miners, of all coal miners, have ensured our military security by providing coal, not just for

3:28:24 to 3:28:44( Edit History Discussion )

Nick J. Rahall: the generation of power, but as an essential element in the steel making process. all coal miners are deserving of our gratitude and of our renewed commitment to ensure that such tragedies never occur again. countless indiduals can be thanked for their help during this disaster. i thank our governor for his

3:28:45 to 3:29:05( Edit History Discussion )

Nick J. Rahall: leadership, both of our two senators, our secretary of labor, hilda solis, who twice visited us during this week. her assistant secretary for mine safety health administration there every day and night. our west virginia division mine health and safety director. jimmy, director of our west virginia homeland security.

3:29:06 to 3:29:28( Edit History Discussion )

Nick J. Rahall: both of these individuals were there every day and night, 24/7, for an entire week. i thank our westirginia head coach, bobby huggins, for his upliftg visit to the families. by all accounts, the explosion that took the lives of these 29 miners should never have happened in this time, in this modern era.

3:29:29 to 3:29:49( Edit History Discussion )

Nick J. Rahall: to quote mine safety administrator who fought every hour, 24 hours a day, to help find our coal mirs and i state what he said, all explosions are preventable. it's just making sure you have things in place to keep one from occurring. it's quite evident that something went very wrong here, end quote.

3:29:50 to 3:30:10( Edit History Discussion )

Nick J. Rahall: there are multiple lares of laws and regulations in place to prevent such a disaster. there are modern technologies. there were repeated, insistent inspections and yet 29 men perished and one is hanging on in the hospital. that this deadly explosion

3:30:11 to 3:30:31( Edit History Discussion )

Nick J. Rahall: occurred is infuriatingly frustratingly heartbreaking and i'm determined that we will get to the bottom it and ensure that steps are taken to prevent a recurrence of this type of explosion. we owe it to the miners who perished in raleigh county last week. we owe it their families, we owe it to their co-workers. and so many strong and tough

3:30:32 to 3:30:53( Edit History Discussion )

Nick J. Rahall: west virginiaans came together to pray and to help these families. our west virginia state police stood by every family's side to help in any way they could. the american red cross, billy graham's crusade, family members of previous mine disaster victims and most importantly, our ministers, our pasters, our west virginia council of

3:30:54 to 3:31:14( Edit History Discussion )

Nick J. Rahall: churches, all who came from all over our great state to counsel, to cry and to call upon god who above all else will guide these families through this healing process. with that inner strength that comes from the west virginia people, we will get through this tragedy together. we will hold accountable those

3:31:15 to 3:31:36( Edit History Discussion )

Nick J. Rahall: who failed our miners. so help me god. today the house of representatives honors the 29 miners lost in raleigh county last week. we express the condolences of our nation to their families and we recognize abovall the valiant efforts of the rescue workers, those who placed their

3:31:37 to 3:31:58( Edit History Discussion )

Nick J. Rahall: lives on the line to save other lives who answered the cl that day. our first responders, our paramedics, our law enforcement personnel all came together. may the good lord keep our lost miners, may he care for those families and bless those rescue personnel who risked their own lives in service to others and may he want over each and every

3:31:59 to 3:32:00( Edit History Discussion )

Nick J. Rahall: coal mine who are continues to