October 18, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 165 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Pages H8231-H8232]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          ABANDONED COAL MINES

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to draw 
attention to our Nation's abandoned coal mines.

[[Page H8232]]

  Pennsylvania's heritage is rooted in coal. It powered an industrial 
revolution and won two world wars. However, as more and more coal mines 
continue to shut their doors, properly closing these mines is 
incredibly important.
  Of Pennsylvania's 67 counties, 43 have abandoned mine lands. My 
district, Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional District, has the most, 
nationwide. These sites are a danger to the environment and to 
Pennsylvania's residents.
  To take action on this, I was pleased to join my colleague, 
Representative Matt Cartwright from Pennsylvania's Eighth Congressional 
District, in introducing H.R. 4248, the Abandoned Mine Land 
Reauthorization Act.
  The Abandoned Mine Land trust fund is set to expire in September of 
2021. This bill will not only reauthorize the fund for the next 15 
years, but helps for economic growth in coal communities impacted by 
mine closures.
  Since 1977, the AML program has eliminated over 46,000 open mine 
portals, and reauthorizing the AML trust fund is critical to continued 
progress.

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