Stop the War on Coal

On Friday, the House passed H.R. 3409, the Stop the War on Coal Act, which is a common-sense package of proposals aimed at putting an end to the Administration’s war on coal that is harming our already weak economy. The EPA's costly regulatory assault on our nation’s energy producers threatens American jobs and drives up energy costs for North Texas families and small businesses.

With chronic unemployment plaguing our nation under the President’s failed policies, it is imperative that we stop excessive red-tape that is forcing layoffs in the coal industry. Just this week, coal producer Alpha Natural Resources announced that it is “eliminating 1,200 jobs companywide, including 400 with the immediate closing of eight mines in Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania,” according to the Associated Press.

The series of bills included in the package passed by House not only blocks some of the Administration’s damaging new regulations, but also requires an analysis of the economic impact that rules and regulations have on energy prices, jobs and our global competitiveness. My colleagues and I in the House have passed several bills from our American Energy Initiative to expand domestic energy production and protect American jobs, and I urge the Senate to join our efforts.