Education and Labor Committee Seeks Deposition Authority for Crandall Canyon Investigation

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA) plans to introduce a resolution today that would grant the House Education and Labor Committee the authority to compel witnesses to give depositions as part of the Committee’s investigation into the deaths of nine men at the Crandall Canyon Mine in Utah in August 2007.

The Committee began an investigation into the Crandall Canyon disaster soon after it occurred. The Committee already has the authority to subpoena documentary evidence and to compel witnesses to appear at Committee hearings. But the full House must grant the Committee deposition authority for the investigation. While not unprecedented, the granting of deposition authority is rare. 

“It is critically important that the families of the miners who died have a full and independent investigation into the disaster that claimed their loved ones,” said Miller, chairman of the Education and Labor Committee. “While we would prefer that individuals come forward voluntarily to supply the committee with information, we are taking this step to ensure that we get the information we need from all relevant witnesses, whether they volunteer the information or not.

“The committee already has the ability to obtain documentary evidence. But to conduct a thorough investigation, we also need to have the ability to collect testimonial evidence,” said Miller. “We need to know who knew what, when they knew it, and how they came to know it. We need to know about face-to-face meetings and telephone conversations they had. Emails and memos are important, but they will only tell a part of the story.” 

The House Rules Committee will meet Wednesday to consider and vote on Miller’s resolution; the full House could vote on it this week. Miller’s committee will also meet on Wednesday to adopt rules governing the use of the deposition authority.

To see the text of Miller’s resolution, click here. 

To see the text of the proposed Education and Labor Committee rule governing the use of the deposition authority, click here.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tom Kiley / Rachel Racusen
2181 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-226-0853