West Virginia Delegation Testifies at

U.S. House Hearing on Mine Safety

Capito, Mollohan, Rahall Join Pennsylvania’s Murphy and Others

on Panel of Witnesses

WASHINGTON, D.C. – All three West Virginia Members of the U.S. House testified today at a Workforce Protections Subcommittee hearing on mine safety and health.  Reps. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Alan Mollohan (D-WV), and Nick J. Rahall II (D-WV) joined their colleague from neighboring southwestern Pennsylvania, Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA), on a bipartisan panel of House Members invited by the Subcommittee to provide feedback on the federal response to this year’s mine tragedies, discuss mine safety technology, and outline initiatives to improve the safety of U.S. mines.

This marked the second in a series of mine safety hearings planned by the House Education & the Workforce Committee.  On March 1, 2006, the Workforce Protections Subcommittee held a hearing to highlight the federal role in mine safety, with a particular emphasis on communications technology.

“Earlier this week, the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) held a technology meeting to explore improving existing communications and location systems,” said Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-GA), chairman of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee.  “Several people asked the same question I did in the last hearing.  ‘Why are we unable to communicate with miners underground?  What are the limits of technology?’  I understand that progress is being made in this area, but I am interested in hearing how this progress can be accelerated in order to get MSHA-permissible equipment in place.  It is an area the Subcommittee will continue to explore.”

Rep. Capito discussed technology as well, providing the Subcommittee an update on efforts underway to improve communications devices.

“Seven new two-way, wireless communications devices will be tested in West Virginia next week and MSHA has said that it received over 80 proposals in response to its January request for public comment, demonstrating that there are companies and individuals willing to create this safety technology,” Capito told the panel.  “I am committed to working with the Subcommittee and all other interested members to save lives and reduce accidents across the country.”

Rep. Mollohan promoted efforts to improve technology through mine safety legislation backed by the West Virginia delegation. 

“This proposed legislation requires rulemaking to implement electronic tracking systems in underground coal mines,” noted Mollohan.  “No particular technology is mandated; instead that is left to the rulemaking process, which will include public comment and the input of mine health and safety experts.”

Rep. Rahall also discussed the delegation’s legislative proposal.

“For America, which has long led the world in promoting workplace health and safety, the recent mine tragedies have left something of a black eye,” Rahall asserted.  “They have highlighted advances abroad and a lack of sufficient innovation here at home.  With the know-how of this nation, overcoming the technology hurdle is a small challenge, nudged along by regulation called for in this bill.”

Rep. Murphy urged the Subcommittee to carefully consider not only legislative proposals but also the enforcement of laws already on the books, as well as the safety procedures employed by the mining industry.

“Legislation should provide additional measures where they are needed,” said Murphy.  “But instead of reinventing the wheel, first and foremost, the Department of Labor must be able to better enforce existing laws.  Some provisions among the legislative proposals are redundant.  Also, we need to carefully review procedures used by mining companies that have great safety compliance records.  How do they manage to make mining safer when others do not?  A review of best practices will help us do better, as well as examining those who fail to meet safety standards.”

Capito, Mollohan, Rahall, and Murphy were joined on the panel of witnesses by Reps. Ben Chandler (D-KY), Jerry Costello (D-IL), Artur Davis (D-AL), and Rush Holt (D-NJ).  Additional mine safety hearings are expected to be held by the Education & the Workforce Committee throughout the year.

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