PRINTER'S NO.  3996

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

No.

873

Session of

2010

  

  

INTRODUCED BY PASHINSKI, BARBIN, BARRAR, BELFANTI, BEYER, BISHOP, BOBACK, BRADFORD, BRENNAN, BROOKS, CALTAGIRONE, CLYMER, CONKLIN, D. COSTA, CREIGHTON, DALEY, DAY, DeLUCA, DENLINGER, DeWEESE, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, ELLIS, D. EVANS, EVERETT, FAIRCHILD, FLECK, GABLER, GEORGE, GERGELY, GIBBONS, GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, GRELL, GROVE, GRUCELA, HARHAI, HARHART, HARKINS, HENNESSEY, HESS, HORNAMAN, KILLION, KIRKLAND, KORTZ, KULA, LEVDANSKY, MAHONEY, MANN, MARKOSEK, MARSICO, McCALL, MELIO, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MIRABITO, MOUL, MUNDY, MURPHY, MURT, MUSTIO, MYERS, OBERLANDER, O'NEILL, PARKER, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, QUINN, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROCK, SAINATO, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, SEIP, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH, SOLOBAY, SONNEY, STABACK, STEVENSON, SWANGER, R. TAYLOR, THOMAS, TRUE, VULAKOVICH, WATSON, WHITE AND YOUNGBLOOD, JUNE 25, 2010

  

  

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, JUNE 25, 2010  

  

  

  

A RESOLUTION

  

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Honoring the coal miners who perished at the Upper Big Branch

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Mine-South in Raleigh County, West Virginia, by extending

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condolences to the families of the fallen coal miners and the

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people of West Virginia; and urging the Citizens' Stamp

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Advisory Committee to recommend to the United States Postal

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Service that, in recognition of the deaths of more than

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100,000 miners, an image of an American coal miner be placed

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on the face of a United States postage stamp.

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WHEREAS, Following an explosion on April 5, 2010, 29 coal

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miners from West Virginia tragically perished in the Upper Big

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Branch Mine-South; and

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WHEREAS, The explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine-South was

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one of the worst coal mining disasters in the United States in

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recent memory; and

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WHEREAS, For these miners, coal mining was not just a job; it

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was a calling; and

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WHEREAS, The miners lived with the knowledge that there is

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risk in coal mining, but they were proud to take that risk and

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they labored in the company of good and loyal friends in order

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to earn an honest paycheck which provided for their families and

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themselves; and

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WHEREAS, Coal miners and their families have shaped the

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history and culture of the State of West Virginia and the United

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States; and

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WHEREAS, The United States is greatly indebted to all coal

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miners who work in difficult and dangerous conditions to provide

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the fuel necessary to keep our country strong and secure; and

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WHEREAS, Coal miners have fueled our nation's economic engine

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and ensured our military security by providing coal not just for

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the generation of power but as an essential element in the

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steel-making process; and

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WHEREAS, Federal and state authorities must review coal

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mining rules and regulations to ensure that coal miners are

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protected and that coal mine tragedies do not occur again; and

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WHEREAS, Technological advances and years of accumulated

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information and statistics must be utilized to help prevent coal

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mine accidents; and

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WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Board of Coal Mine Safety and the

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Mine Safety and Health Administration should review the

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applicable rules and regulations to protect the safety of coal

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miners; and

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WHEREAS, The Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee should

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approve and issue a United States postal stamp depicting an

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image of an American coal miner on its face, in recognition of

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the deaths of more than 100,000 miners; therefore be it

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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the

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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania recognize the ultimate sacrifice

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made by the 29 coal miners lost at the Upper Big Branch Mine-

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South, Raleigh County, West Virginia; and be it further

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RESOLVED,  That the House of Representatives of the

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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania extend their deepest condolences,

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on behalf of the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, to

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the families of the fallen coal miners and the people of West

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Virginia; and be it further

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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the

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Commonwealth of Pennsylvania urge the Citizens' Stamp Advisory

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Committee to approve and issue a United States postal stamp

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depicting an image of an American coal miner on its face in

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recognition of the deaths of more than 100,000 miners; and be it

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further

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RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted by

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the Chief Clerk of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to the

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General Assembly of the State of West Virginia and to the

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Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee.

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