U.S. House schedule for Tuesday, March 25, 2014

From U.S. House Leader Eric Cantor's office....

TUESDAY, MARCH 25TH
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. First and last votes expected: 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.

One Minute Speeches

H.R. 2824 - Preventing Government Waste and Protecting Coal Mining Jobs in America, Rules Committee Print (Structured Rule, One Hour of Debate) (Sponsored by Rep. Bill Johnson / Natural Resources Committee)

The Rule provides for one hour of general debate and makes in order the following amendments:

Rep. Alan Lowenthal Amendment (10 minutes of debate)

Reps. Cartwright / Van Hollen / Lowenthal Amendment (10 minutes of debate)

Postponed Suspension Vote on H.R. 1228 - A bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 123 South 9th Street in De Pere, Wisconsin, as the “Corporal Justin D. Ross Post Office Building,” as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Reid Ribble / Oversight and Government Reform Committee) 

Special Order Speeches

COMMITTEE ACTIVITY OF THE DAY
Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Power hearing on “H.R. 6, the Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act” (Tuesday, March 25th, at 1:30 p.m.)

Printable PDF

NLS gets taken to the wood shed

Alton Foley has weighed in on Not Larry Sabato's political comments during West Virginia's tragic coal mining accident when 25 miners are known dead and four more are still missing. Alton wrote:

As one who formerly worked underground alongside miners, I was somewhat put off by their comments, and said so.

He then added comments from West Virginians who were disgusted at NLS's post and asked that he take it down.

Others who were disgusted and said so in no uncertain words were Carl Kilo and Tom White.

I continue to be amazed at the difference between Democrats and Republicans at times of tragedy. While most Republicans offer condolences or just remain silent -- take for example the passing of Ted Kennedy -- liberal Democrats pile on to score political points -- take for example the death wishes when Rush Limbaugh experienced heart trouble in Hawaii at Christmas.

The lights are on as our hearts ache for those families whose husbands, sons, nephews, friends, and neighbors help provide the convenience we know as electricity. America mourns....

Tragedy in West Virginia coal mine

~25 coal miners dead in blast~

Whenever a tragedy occurs in the coalfields, I turn to Carl Kilo for information ... and today is no exception. He has worked it, he knows it, he is part of the coal community.

What surprised me was Tom White's immediate response to Ben Tribbett's post about a heart breaking loss of 25 lives ... and possibly more ... because I was unaware of Tom's connection to West Virginia and the mines. Not one to mince words, Tom laid it on the line:

My Grandfather was a West Virginia coal miner who died of Black Lung, as did his father before him. My Dad worked for a short time in the mines as did my uncles and I have many cousins currently working in coal mines in West Virginia. My Dad’s people were Welsh immigrants who traded the mines in Wales for those in West Virginia.

So, as I hear of the tragedy in a mine near Charleston, WV I begin to wonder if I am going to get a call or an email bringing bad news.

Then I run across this post by Tribbett who uses the mining tragedy for a political attack on Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli.

This is not the time for political attacks or attacks on "big coal" ... this is the time to pull together as Americans and recognize the contribution of these hard-working men and grieve with their loved ones. Our prayers are with their families.

George Allen: "Coal jobs vital for Virginia, America"

Former Gov. George Allen has responded to a claim made by Democrat blog Blue Virginia that cited the Washington Post's account that coal mining made up only "2 percent of employment in central Appalachian region." Blue Virginia wrote:

From this morning’s Washington Post comes a factual response to those who claim, against all evidence to the contrary, that the highly mechanized form of coal extraction known as “mountaintop removal” is a major employer in Appalachia (or anywhere else). As Justin Maxson, president of the Mountain Association for Community Economic Development, explains, it’s not.

Here is the Governor's response.

Coal Jobs Vital for Virginia, America
By George Allen

It is wise to diversify job opportunities in the Coalfields of Southwest Virginia and elsewhere in Appalachia. But these writers, who are against or unfriendly to coal, are concocting misleading facts to diminish the positive attributes of American coal.

The reality is that coal mining provides very good-paying jobs for those involved directly in mining as well as for people who manufacture and supply mining equipment and those who transport coal to electric power plants, steel mills and our Virginia Ports. A job is important to all men and women whether in retail or mining. These writers miss the fact that coal-related jobs pay more than retail jobs.

All of us who use electricity benefit from American coal, which by all measurement is the most available, reliable and least expensive source of power. Beyond the hundreds of thousands of American jobs related to American coal, the coal severance taxes in Southwest Virginia actually help fund the attraction of new businesses via the Coalfields Economic Development Authority.

As a country, we are blessed with plentiful coal resources. Rather than become more dependent on foreign, more expensive or intermittent energy sources, let’s creatively and cleanly utilize our American coal.

Kilo really "Sparks It Up" ... this coal miner tells it like it is

Thanks, Carl! I call 'em like I see 'em.

SWAC Girl steals my heart with this post - Dominion Power ... THANK YOU! Raising Kaine and Green Miles ... butt out!

Carl Kilo is a coal miner ... and he tells it like it is as he writes:

That is right. These fools question the benefits of this plant that will burn only Virginia coal... Two million tons a year of it to be exact. Over 5000 tons a day.

That coal will be mined and trucked to the plant, spreading wealth to truck drivers, fuel sales, tires and parts, insurance sales, and every store a truck driver will stop at during the day. That coal will keep many miners working securely with jobs that pay 50k a year at minimum and 125k for the top positions.

The coal taxes alone will provide a projected 50 to 60 percent of Wise county's tax base. I am not the smartest of men, but I can count. This plant was never about the 75 permanent jobs at the plant, it is about all the others listed above.

Read the rest of his post ... he lays it on the line.

Not only should we be thanking Dominion Power for building the plant and providing jobs and electricity to our state ... we should be thanking those Southwestern Virginians who work the mines, drive the trucks, run the shifts, and everything else that helps make it possible for us to flip a switch and ... voila! ... instant electricity.

My hat's off to Carl Kilo and crew. Thanks, Guys!