MANCHIN STATEMENT ON MINER DEATH IN RALEIGH COUNTY

Source: Senator, Joe Manchin, III - (D - WV)

Washington, D.C. - October 24, 2017 - (The Ponder News) -- U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) today released the following statement on the death of a coal miner in Raleigh County.

“I am heartbroken to learn of the loss of James Adkins in Raleigh County today. We are again reminded of the incredible sacrifices made by our coal miners and their families each and every day. Gayle and I extend our thoughts and prayers to the friends and family of Mr. Adkins.”

Related news:

Raleigh miner killed on job, becomes year's 7th coal-mining death in WV

Leaders, Groups, and Unions Upset with Comments About Miners

Source: Tom Emmer (R-MN, 6th)

Washington, D.C. - October 14, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- Congressman Tom Emmer (MN-06) released the following statement in regards to recent disparaging comments from leaders of Save the Boundary Waters against miners and union workers in Northern Minnesota:

“This nation was built on the backs of the American worker, and Minnesota was built on the backs of Minnesota miners. For some Minnesota families, mining is in their blood going back to the beginning of Minnesota’s statehood. These men and women are responsible for keeping our towns, our state, and our country alive. They are the ones we have to thank for providing the precious metals needed for our cell phones, computers, vehicles and wind turbines.

“Apparently, Save the Boundary Waters’ leaders think rather differently telling the New York Times, ‘They want somebody to just give them a job so they can all drink beer with their buddies and go four-wheeling and snowmobiling with their buddies, not have to think about anything except punching a clock.’

“All Americans, and all Minnesotans, have the right to say or believe what they will, but that is not the Minnesota Nice we are known for, and I am embarrassed to hear fellow Minnesotans speak so disparagingly about our neighbors. The next time Save the Boundary Waters leaders voice their opposition, I hope they take a minute to realize all they have thanks to the mining industry and the incredible workers who provided it to them.

“I urge my fellow Minnesota colleagues to join me in condemning these unnecessary mean-spirted attacks on our hardworking citizens.”

CAPITO, MANCHIN, MCKINLEY, WELCH INTRODUCE AMERICAN MINERS PENSION ACT

Washington, D.C. - October 4, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and U.S. Representatives David McKinley (R-W.Va.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) have introduced the American Miners Pension Act (AMP Act) at a press conference with United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) President Cecil Roberts and retired miners explaining the importance of this legislation and urging quick adoption.

“Earlier this year, we secured a major victory of permanent health care for our miners and their families. But that victory was only half the battle. Today, we took the next step by introducing the AMP Act, which will ensure these hardworking men and women receive the pensions they rightfully earned. I am always proud to stand with our miners through thick and thin—especially our West Virginia miners—and I will continue to stand with them today as we work to deliver the peace of mind they deserve,” Senator Capito said.

“We have come together today to deliver on an unfinished promise. Earlier this year, we passed legislation to ensure the health benefits of 22,600 miners,” Senator Manchin said. “These benefits are lifesaving to our nation’s miners and their families and I was proud to fight successfully, shoulder to shoulder with them, to secure their health care. But our job isn’t finished. The bill we will introduce today, the American Miners Pension Act, protects the pensions of nearly 87,000 current beneficiaries and another 20,000 eligible coal miners with vested pensions. These miners earned their pensions through a lifetime of the hardest work imaginable. They did so resting in the knowledge that they would find it waiting for them down the road for support in their retired years. Let’s finish what we started and pass this fix to ensure our coal miners keep their hard-earned pensions.”

“Congress needs to keep the promise made to our miners and protect the pension benefits these men and women earned with their sweat. More than 117,000 miners and their families are counting on us. Now that we’ve addressed the immediate threat to retirees’ health care, we need to finish what we started and fix their troubled pension. Our retirees deserve peace of mind that the benefits they earned during their years in the mines will be there when they need them,” Congressman McKinley said.

“For generations, coal miners have risked their lives to keep homes warm, lights on, and factories powered,” Congressman Welch said. “We have a moral obligation to ensure that their hard earned pensions are there when they retire.”

Currently, the 1974 UMWA Pension Plan is on the road to insolvency. The American Miners Pension Act will shore up the 1974 UMWA Pension Plan to make sure that nearly 87,000 retired miners receiving pensions, as well as another 20,000 who are vested, won’t lose the pensions they have paid into for decades. In West Virginia alone, there are 26,967 pensioners who are at risk. The AMP Act would:

Use the provision from the Miners Protection Act to allow transfers of excess funds in the Abandoned Mine Land program to the 1974 UMWA pension plan.

Direct the Treasury Department to loan the Pension Plan funds annually.

Cap the annual loan amount at $600 million and set the interest rate at 1 percent.

Require the fund to pay interest for the first 10 years and then pay back the principal plus interest over a 30-year term.

Require the fund to certify each year that the pension plan is solvent and able to pay back the principal and interest.