HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 140

(By Delegates  Dean, Anderson, Angelucci, Barrett, Boggs, N. Brown, Canestraro, Caputo, Cooper, Diserio, Estep-Burton, Evans, Hansen, Hartman, Lavender-Bowe, Longstreth, Lovejoy, C. Martin, P. Martin, Maynard, Paynter, Pethtel, Pyles, Rodighiero, Rohrbach, Rowe, Skaff, Sponaugle, Staggers, Steele, Storch, Summers Swartzmiller, Sypolt, C. Thompson, R. Thompson, Toney, Walker, Worrell and Zukoff)

[Introduced March 4, 2020]

Urging the Congress of the United States to pass the RECLAIM Act, which would assist communities negatively impacted by changes to the country’s energy industry.

Whereas, The number of coal mining jobs in this country has fallen over 90 percent since the coal mining industry’s peak. This number is likely to decrease further as the nature of the United States’ energy production continues to evolve. Many communities in West Virginia have lost coal mining jobs and have struggled to recover from the economic turmoil caused by mine closures; and

Whereas, Reclamation of the many abandoned coal mines will provide long-term economic opportunities, including in areas such as energy, industry, and infrastructure development. Numerous former mining communities throughout the nation have successfully utilized reclaimed mines for substantial, long-term, economic benefits; and

Whereas, If left alone, abandoned coal mines will continue to negatively impact the environment, including contaminating water resources; and

Whereas, The Revitalizing the Economy of Coal Communities by Leveraging Local Activities and Investing More Act of 2017 (“RECLAIM Act”) would distribute an estimates $200 million dollars in West Virginia over five years for mine reclamation and bring immediate and necessary relief to communities that have been devastated by the decline of the coal industry; and

Whereas, The RECLAIM Act would not raise fees or taxes on any individual or business, but would only distribute existing federal funds; and

Whereas, The members of the West Virginia Legislature find that the United States has an obligation to assist communities negatively impacted by changes to the country’s energy industry; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the Legislature urges the Congress of the United States to pass the RECLAIM Act, which would assist communities negatively impacted by changes to the country’s energy industry; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives transmit certified copies of this resolution to the Speaker and Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore, and Secretary of the United States Senate, and to each member of West Virginia’s congressional delegation.