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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2015 - 2016
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | June 22, 2016 04:31 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Aaron D. Kaufer |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | RESOLUTION: "Coal Miner Heritage Day" in PA |
| In the near future, I will be introducing a resolution designating the third Saturday in July as "Coal Miner Heritage Day" in Pennsylvania. Coal miners have played an important part in our nation's economic and cultural history. Coal is one of the largest domestic energy resources in the history of America and Pennsylvania happens to be the fourth largest coal producing state, with the earliest record of coal mining dating back to a 1761 plan of Fort Pitt. The coal mines were dangerous places to work as injuries and deaths were common. Between 1869 and 1900, in the anthracite mining industry alone, more than 10,000 miners died due to mine accidents. Coal miners of the anthracite region came from diverse ethnic groups. By the year 1990, nearly one-fourth of the residents of the anthracite region were immigrants, and eventually, immigrants would constitute half of the population of the anthracite region. Even though the coal miners and their families may have come from different ethnic groups and dealt with loss, they all adapted to the difficult trials of mining life through cooperation and initiative. Even today, various activities held in the anthracite region, including ethnic festivals, parades, picnics and programs, continue to reflect the diverse heritage of the coal miners who worked there. The contributions of coal miners to our nation and our Commonwealth cannot be overstated and I urge you to join me in designating the third Saturday in July as "Coal Miner Heritage Day" in Pennsylvania. |
Introduced as HR951