Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, if the Senator from Kentucky will yield for a question, just a few years ago, not long after 9/11, we had the Brookwood mine disaster in Alabama, where 13 miners lost their lives. Basically, like the firemen in New York, they were responding to help someone in need, another miner that they believed needed help in an emergency, and lost their lives in a rescue attempt. It was a very emotional time for me and the families and 1. [Page: S4862] GPO's PDF the town. We were joined on that occasion at the Brookwood mine area by the Secretary of Labor, Elaine Chao. I want you to know how proud I was of her that night. She went over to the union hall.
She had to be up at 5 o'clock the next morning to catch a flight. But she stayed there almost 2 hours meeting and talking with the victims of that disaster. I was able to call just Friday several family members and others who were involved in that to tell them of the passage of this piece of legislation out of committee. They were very excited about it--a lawyer for the union official, families of people who were killed in that disaster. As the Senator said, the price of coal is up. The demand for energy is up. We are going to be doing more mining. This legislation will clearly be a step forward into making those mines safer. I thank him for those comments. I hope we can move rapidly.
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, before yielding the floor, I thank my friend from Alabama. I hope this legislation will clear the Senate sometime tomorrow. I know people are working on both sides of the aisle to get it cleared. It should not be controversial. After all, it came out of committee unanimously. It is supported by the National Mining Association and the UMWA. We need to get that bill passed.
I hope, also, we can get a permanent Director of MSHA. It is without a permanent Director at a very important time in the life and safety of our Nation's coal miners.
Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. President, I certainly agree with that. I just ask that when the Senator gets home tonight, he thank the Secretary of Labor for the good work she has given to the committee in helping us pass this legislation.
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I yield the floor.
