WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell took the concerns of coal country to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Headquarters in Washington, D.C. today when he testified at the agency’s hearing on its regulation for existing power plants and the negative impact it will have on Kentucky’s economy and coal jobs.

Senator McConnell has repeatedly invited the EPA to come to Kentucky to hear first-hand from Kentucky miners and families impacted by the agency’s regulations, however, the EPA has ignored the Senator’s requests.

Joining Senator McConnell at the hearing was Jimmy Rose of Pineville, Kentucky. Rose is a former Kentucky coal miner, veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, and star of America’s Got Talent. Bill Bissett, President of the Kentucky Coal Association, also testified at the hearing. Senator McConnell’s testimony is below the photos.

Jimmy Rose and Senator McConnell testify at the EPA.

Senator McConnell’s testimony follows:

“Thank you. I appreciate the opportunity to participate in today’s second round of listening sessions. It is my understanding that these sessions are intended to gather stakeholder input on the EPA’s proposed regulations on existing power plants.

“However, I couldn’t help but notice that—once again—these sessions are scheduled in locations that are very difficult for my constituents in coal country to get to. The closest hearing for them is in Atlanta, which for many is a 13-hour round trip.

“You say everyone has the opportunity to be heard—whether via online submission forms, fax or mail—if they cannot make the hearings. Well, many in coal country are facing a depression and are out of work, in large part due to your agency’s War on Coal.

“The internet and your online portal are not readily accessible for many of my constituents. Snail mail does not provide any reassurance that their comments have been received and are taken seriously. My constituents want to talk to you in person, look you in the eye, and tell you what these regulations will do to their families.

“However, you have refused to accept my numerous invitations to come to Kentucky. That is why I am back here again today.

“Today I brought with me a friend from coal country, Jimmy Rose. Jimmy is from Pineville, Kentucky, and he is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, a former coal miner, and finalist on America’s Got Talent. He is famous for his song called ‘Coal Keeps the Lights On.’ Members of the Kentucky Coal Association are here with us today as well.

“To us, it seems as though this EPA wants to take one of our signature industries away. The onslaught of over-regulation and lack of certainty in the coal industry has contributed to the loss of 7,000 coal jobs since the year President Obama took office.

“Despite the claims of many, it doesn’t have to be this way. According to both the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet and the Energy Information Administration, Kentucky coal jobs were actually up during the previous administration, by 3,500 jobs from 2001 to 2008.

“That makes it clear to me that the layers upon layers of regulations this administration keeps piling on are contributing in a major way to this decline.

“Last month, your agency proposed this rule for existing power plants. These regulations come on top of a host of other regulations that comprise the War on Coal, such as your proposed carbon pollution standards on new power plants, the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, the Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards, and the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, to name a few. This doesn’t even address the mine permitting process, which is slower than ever.

“But today we are specifically here to talk about your latest regulation for existing power plants. I believe this regulation to be more like a scheme than a rule—it is a numbers game, masquerading under the guise of allowing states flexibility to meet an individual, prescribed carbon reduction goal. But the effect of reaching this goal treats states differently, and plays favorites.

“Kentucky’s assigned target is to reduce carbon emissions in 2030 by 18 percent, while Washington State has been assigned a target over 70 percent. These targets paint an illusion by using percentages rather than real numbers—an illusion that Kentucky is getting off easy, but this is not the case. Kentucky will have to cut much more emissions than Washington to meet its target.

“This is because Washington does not utilize low-cost, efficient and reliable coal-fired generation and Kentucky does. Washington will only have to close one coal-fired power plant to meet its goal of reducing emissions by over 70 percent.

“However, Kentucky, with 20 coal-fired power plants that provide our state with 90 percent of its electricity, will have to cut significantly more jobs and reliable income for thousands of families across the state in order to meet its goal.

“It’s those in less-fortunate communities, and those who lost their jobs due to fuel switching, that are hurt the most from higher utility bills.

“It seems to me, and to many of my fellow Kentuckians, that as far as the EPA is concerned, coal is a dirty word. I can assure you, that is not the case in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. In my state, coal is what has provided a life’s work for generations. It has put food on the table and paid for clothes, education, and health care.

“It represents the pride to be found from an honest day’s work. I am here on behalf of Kentuckians throughout my state to say that we will not stand idly by while this administration tries to wipe out the lifeblood of our state.

“Before I conclude, I want to thank my friend Bill Bissett, president of the Kentucky Coal Association, for being here. Bill has made the trip to Washington to speak for the many in the coal industry he represents who could not.

“And now I’d like to introduce my good friend, the voice of the Kentucky coal miner, Jimmy Rose.”