THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY STABACK, DeWEESE, ADOLPH, BAKER, BEAR, BELFANTI, BEYER, BOBACK, BRADFORD, BRENNAN, CALTAGIRONE, CLYMER, COHEN, D. COSTA, CREIGHTON, CUTLER, DERMODY, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, EVERETT, FLECK, FREEMAN, GEIST, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GILLESPIE, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HARHAI, HARKINS, HELM, HENNESSEY, HESS, HICKERNELL, HUTCHINSON, KORTZ, KOTIK, KRIEGER, KULA, LONGIETTI, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MANN, MARKOSEK, MARSICO, MATZIE, McCALL, McGEEHAN, MELIO, MENSCH, METZGAR, MILLARD, MOUL, MUNDY, MURPHY, MURT, OBERLANDER, O'NEILL, PALLONE, PARKER, PAYNE, PETRARCA, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, PRESTON, PYLE, QUINN, RAPP, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROSS, SAINATO, SANTONI, SCAVELLO, SIPTROTH, K. SMITH, SOLOBAY, SONNEY, STERN, SWANGER, TRUE, VEREB, VULAKOVICH, WALKO, WATERS, WATSON, WHITE AND YUDICHAK, MAY 29, 2009

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MAY 29, 2009  

A RESOLUTION

Designating August 9, 2009, as "Coal Miners Day" in Pennsylvania

in appreciation, honor and remembrance of the accomplishments

and sacrifices of coal miners in this Commonwealth.

WHEREAS, The number of coal miners who have died on the job

in this Commonwealth since 1870 totals 51,514, which consists of

31,119 underground anthracite fatalities and 20,395 underground

bituminous fatalities; and

WHEREAS, In 1907, the deadliest year in United States and

Pennsylvania coal mining history, 3,242 miners were killed,

including 1,514 miners from Pennsylvania; and

WHEREAS, The General Assembly recognizes the significance of

coal mining to the history and vitality of this Commonwealth and

its economy; and

WHEREAS, Coal mining is safer today because the industry, its

miners and government are working together to make the safety of

miners the highest priority, thereby significantly reducing the

frequency of accidents and fatalities; and

WHEREAS, The near-catastrophe and successful rescue of nine

miners at the Quecreek Mine in Somerset County in July 2002, the

deaths of 12 miners at the Sago Mine in West Virginia in January

2006 and the tragedy involving the six miners and three rescue

workers at the Crandall Canyon Mine in Utah in August 2007 serve

as stark reminders of the dangers related to mining; and

WHEREAS, Coal miners who have perished in Pennsylvania coal

mine accidents and disasters and the families they left behind

should not be forgotten; and

WHEREAS, The House of Representatives seek to designate

August 9, 2009, as "Coal Miners Day" in Pennsylvania in

appreciation, honor and remembrance of the accomplishments and

sacrifices of coal miners in this Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Part of the day on August 9, 2009, should be set

aside for quiet contemplation to honor those brave miners; and

WHEREAS, The House of Representatives urge the Governor to

issue a proclamation designating August 9, 2009, as "Coal Miners

Day" in Pennsylvania; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate August

9, 2009, as "Coal Miners Day" in Pennsylvania in appreciation,

honor and remembrance of the accomplishments and sacrifices of

miners in this Commonwealth; and be it further

RESOLVED, That on August 9, 2009, at least part of the day be

set aside for quiet contemplation to honor those brave miners;

and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to

the Governor urging his issuance of a proclamation to proclaim

August 9, 2009, as "Coal Miners Day" in Pennsylvania.