Jobs

Standing Up for West Virginia Jobs

  • Congressman McKinley has worked to protect West Virginia energy jobs in coal and natural gas by pushing back against overreaching regulations, such as the EPA’s rules on coal fired power plants.
  • The House has passed McKinley’s legislation on coal ash six times. The bill would protect 316,000 jobs that depend on coal ash recycling and provide certainty for businesses.
  • The National Energy Technology Laboratory is the nation’s premier energy laboratory and supports hundreds of jobs in the Morgantown area. McKinley has fought to increase funding for the fossil energy research done there, and fought off attempts to slash research.
  • McKinley worked to inserted language in the 2015 Defense Authorization bill to ensure American manufacturers can provide rocket motors on tactical missiles. This provision will help protect American jobs, including jobs at the Allegheny Ballistics Lab in Keyser.
  • McKinley worked with NASA to keep their IV&V facility in Fairmont after a report indicated they should consider moving it to Maryland. NASA decided to stay put.
  • McKinley has worked with WVU to boost its research, including passing an amendment to the 2015 NDAA to improve coordination of defense research activities between the Department of Defense, universities, and other research entities.
  • McKinley helped a local defense company win a multi-million dollar government contract.
  • McKinley successfully passed an amendment to help small manufacturers fight unfair and illegal foreign trade.

Jobs Bills Introduced

  • Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 2015 (H.R. 1734): Protects 316,000 jobs by ensuring coal ash can continue to be recycled and disposed in a safe manner.
  • Spruce Mine (H.R. 1203): Prevents the EPA from retroactively vetoing water permits that previously had been approved like they did at the Spruce mine in Southern West Virginia.
  • GI Bill STEM Extension Act of 2015 (H.R. 748): Gives veterans using the GI Bill additional time to complete their degree if they are in a STEM field.
  • Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2015 (H.R. 2177): Promotes energy efficiency improvements in residential and commercial buildings.
  • HOMES Act (H.R. ): Provides tax rebates for energy efficient upgrades done to homes.
  • Social Cost of Carbon (H.R. 5358, 113th Congress): Prevents agencies from being required to consider the “Social Cost” of carbon in their regulations.
  • Protection and Accountability Regulatory Act of 2014 (H.R. 4813, 113th Congress): Stops the EPA’s regulations on power plants from going into effect.
  • American Manufacturing and Worker Protection Act of 2014 (H.R. 4322, 113th Congress): Gives money from anti-dumping fines back to impacted business and workers.
  • Economic Recovery On-the-Job Training Act of 2013 (H.R. 3524, 113th Congress): Requires job training resources to be provided in economically distressed areas.
  • Manufacturing Economic Recovery Act of 2013 (H.R. 1522, 113th Congress): Provides tax credits for companies to locate in abandoned manufacturing sites.

In addition to these initiatives for West Virginia, the House passed a number of bills to promote job growth and encourage businesses to grow, expand, and hire. See a list here.