WASHINGTON (March 16, 2006) Today, Congressman Ben Chandler testified before the Workforce Protections Subcommittee.  The focus of the hearing was “Mine Safety and Health:  A Congressional Perspective.” Congressman Chandler was the only member of the Kentucky delegation to testify. 

Review the following for Congressman Chandler’s remarks as prepared for delivery. 

STATEMENT OF THE HON. BEN CHANDLER

MEMBER OF CONGRESS, SIXTH DICTRICT OF KENTUCKY

BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON WORKFORCE PROTECTION

COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND THE WORKFORCE

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Washington, D.C

Thank you Mr. Chairman.  I commend you for holding this hearing on this important topic and appreciate the opportunity to testify. 

With the recent tragic mining accidents, it should be obvious all across America what Kentuckians have long known: mining coal is a dangerous job, and federal and state governments must act now to improve safety in our mines.  That means enforcing the rules on the books, making violators pay their fines, and passing tough new laws to protect our miners. 

Getting right to the point, Mr. Chairman, we can not afford to wait another day to pass real mine safety reform.  Each day we fail to act, we are failing our miners who are simply trying to go to work and provide for their families. 

Even after the devastating Sago Tragedy, Timothy Caudill, father of two young children, was killed in Eastern Kentucky as a result of a collapsed roof in a mine with over 1,200 citations and orders from MSHA since September of 2001. This is unacceptable.