Press Releases

U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce Chairman John Kline (R-MN) issued the following statement on the two year anniversary of the Upper Big Branch mining disaster:

 

“Two years ago, the people of Montcoal, West Virginia suffered a horrific loss as the worst mining disaster in four decades took the lives of 29 men. It was an unthinkable tragedy that should never have happened. Massey Energy put profit before safety, while federal safety officials failed to hold this reckless operator accountable. Mine operators have a legal and moral responsibility to make safety the top priority, and enforcement officials have a duty to enforce the law. As a nation, we mourn the men who died, keep their families in our prayers, and continue the work that is needed to ensure this kind of catastrophe never happens again.”

The House Committee on Education and the Workforce recently held a hearing entitled, "Learning from the Upper Big Branch Tragedy." To learn more about this hearing, watch an archived webcast, or read witness testimony, click here.

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