PRINTER'S NO. 3627
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
951
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY KAUFER, MASSER, KIRKLAND, V. BROWN, MILLARD,
OBERLANDER, SONNEY, DUSH, RADER, SCHLEGEL CULVER, ORTITAY,
BIZZARRO, WARD, ROZZI, WARNER, HEFFLEY, KINSEY, DAVIS,
LONGIETTI, VEREB, HAHN, BOBACK, MACKENZIE, SAYLOR, TOOHIL,
BURNS, MAHER, JOZWIAK, GREINER, EVERETT, YOUNGBLOOD, PEIFER,
MULLERY, METZGAR, DONATUCCI, MAHONEY, MARSICO, MURT, HARHAI,
HARHART, DiGIROLAMO, D. COSTA, SANKEY, WHEELAND, MAJOR, ROSS,
GOODMAN, GABLER, RAPP AND GIBBONS, JUNE 27, 2016
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
JUNE 27, 2016
A RESOLUTION
Designating the third Saturday in July as "Coal Miner Heritage
Day" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Coal miners have played an important part in our
nation's economic and cultural history; and
WHEREAS, Coal is one of the largest domestic energy resources
in the history of America; and
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth is the fourth-largest coal-
producing state, with the earliest record of coal mining dating
to a 1761 plan of Fort Pitt; and
WHEREAS, Seventy-five percent of the world's anthracite coal
is located in northeastern Pennsylvania, known as the anthracite
region; and
WHEREAS, In 1958, 50% of the anthracite region's male
industrial work force were coal miners; and
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WHEREAS, Coal mines were dangerous places to work as injuries
and deaths were common; and
WHEREAS, Between 1869 and 1900, in the anthracite mining
industry alone, more than 10,000 miners died due to mine
accidents; and
WHEREAS, The coal miners of the anthracite region came from
diverse ethnic groups; and
WHEREAS, By 1900, 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; and
WHEREAS, Though the coal miners and their families may have
come from different ethnic groups, they all adapted to the
difficult trials of mining life through cooperation and
initiative; and
WHEREAS, One mining family, speaking of the cooperation
between mining families, said "You took care of one another. You
never questioned it. In our family we never expected anything in
return. It was the honor that we had"; and
WHEREAS, 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; and
WHEREAS, The importance of the contributions of coal miners
to our nation and our Commonwealth cannot be overstated; and
WHEREAS, President Woodrow Wilson once stated "to the miner
let me say that he stands where the farmer does; the work of the
world waits on him. If he slacks or fails armies and statesmen
are helpless. He also is enlisted in the great service army";
therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
third Saturday in July as "Coal Miner Heritage Day" in
Pennsylvania.
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