Evan Jenkins

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, with only weeks left in this Congress--2, to be exact--our retired coal miners and widows are wondering if we will act to protect them. At the end of the year, the healthcare benefits for many miners and their widows will dry up, and their pensions could be cut in the months and years ahead. When they went down into the mines, they were made a promise: when you retire, you will have a good pension and healthcare benefits. Now that promise is in jeopardy. The pensions and benefits they worked their whole lives for are in jeopardy. Mr. Speaker, time is running out to do the right thing by our miners and their families. But we have a solution: the Coal Healthcare and Pensions Protection Act, legislation I am a proud cosponsor of. It is a bipartisan bill, and a similar bill is pending in the Senate. Congress needs to act to fulfill this promise, to keep our word to the miners of West Virginia and other coal States. These miners and their families deserve no less than what they worked their entire lives to earn: the peace of mind that comes with a pension. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to keep the promise and support this important legislation. Time is running out to stand up for our miners and their families.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, coal communities throughout West Virginia and Appalachia are struggling. This administration's war on coal and market forces have combined to close coal mines and send thousands of coal miners to the unemployment lines. While we work to repeal onerous and overreaching regulations and reopen mines, we also need to diversify our economy. That means attracting new industries to our coal communities and creating new opportunities for investment. I have introduced, today, H.R. 6403, legislation that will help us do just that. The Creating Opportunities for Rural Economies Act would allocate a portion of available new markets tax credits to be used for development in communities impacted by the downturn in coal. Over the next 3 years, it would mean $525 million in credits for heavily impacted communities in West Virginia and Appalachia. These tax credits can be used to help spur investment for new businesses. They can go toward developing new mixed-use facilities, food and grocery stores in underserved communities, manufacturing, healthcare services, and so much more. I want to thank Senator Shelley Moore Capito for her leadership in the Senate on this important issue and legislation. Our coal communities deserve our support and help as they work to diversify their economies. Miners' Pensions

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, in just 64 days, a new President will be sworn in. That is 64 days for the current President, President Obama, to jam through new regulations; new regulations that will hurt our families, kill our jobs, and continue damaging our economies. We saw that just this morning when his administration released the final environmental study for the stream buffer zone rule. This rule continues the administration's war on coal and will take it even further down the road of killing jobs in West Virginia. Congress and the States have all issued opposition to this rule, but this administration didn't listen. It is full steam ahead for this radical agenda and overregulation from the Obama administration. That is why I am proud to support what is known as the Midnight Rules Relief Act. We are voting on it this week. This bill is simple. It gives Congress the authority to review and reject rules that this President, President Obama, or any President issues during the final months of their term. American families and businesses have suffered long enough under this administration's, this President's regulatory onslaught, and they have spoken loud and clear at the polls that they do not want more business as usual from Washington. This administration cannot be allowed to force its job-killing regulations on the American people after their policies have been so soundly rejected. I urge my colleagues to join me in standing up against midnight rules and bringing transparency and accountability back to our Federal agencies.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, time is running out to do right by our retired coal miners and their widows. When they went down into the mines, they were made a promise: When you retire, you will have good pensions and healthcare benefits. They literally put their lives on the line to put food on their table and power our nation, but now that promise is in jeopardy. At the end of the year, the healthcare benefits for many miners and their widows will dry up, and their pensions could end soon as well. These families are worried about making ends meet, and they are going into the holidays with great uncertainty about what the new year will bring. We have a solution. It is called the Coal Healthcare and Pension Miners Protection Act, legislation which I am proud to cosponsor. It is a bipartisan bill, and a similar bill is actually pending in the Senate. Congress needs to act to fulfill this promise. Our miners have done so much for our country. They mined the coal that made the steel that built the skyscrapers and won world wars. These miners and their families deserve no less than what they worked their entire lives to earn: the peace of mind that comes with a pension. I urge my colleagues to keep the promise and support this important legislation. Time is running out to stand up for our miners and their families. Relief from Presidential Midnight Rules

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Dr. Keith Wiebe, who is retiring after thirteen years as president of the American Association of Christian Schools. Dr. Wiebe is much admired and greatly appreciated for all of his great work as senior pastor at Grace Gospel Church in my hometown of Huntington, West Virginia. I have no doubt that he has left that same great impression on everyone he has worked with during his tenure as president of the American Association of Christian Schools. His steadfast faith and commitment to helping our children grow in their Christian faith is truly admirable and serves as an inspiration for all he has had the opportunity to minister God's many blessings. Dr. Wiebe followed his call to serve, an action that all of us can learn from as we continue to grow in our own faith. Once again, congratulations Dr. Wiebe on your 13 years as president of the American Association of Christian Schools.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Michele Prestera Craig and her 30 years of service to West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky as the executive director of the KYOVA Interstate Planning Commission and Region 2 Planning and Development Council. In 1986, Michele became the first woman to assume the command of KYOVA and Region 2 and has since built lasting relationships with local governments to promote the needs of rural and urban communities alike. Under her leadership, the West Virginia-Ohio-Kentucky region has been recognized as a transportation management area, allowing it to serve as an economic development district through the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration. A staunch supporter and advocate for her home of Huntington, her vision and experience have paved the way for a plethora of successful transportation and development projects for the tristate area. I wish her well in the coming years as she is able to spend more time with her husband, Tom, and their children, Tommy, Taylor, Ellie and Michaele, and their beloved granddaughters, Ramsey and Charlotte. I offer her my appreciation and gratitude for her commitment to her neighbors and our state

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, thousands of retirees and widows in my district and coal States across the country are worried about making ends meet. They are wondering if the promises made to them will be kept. They want to know if Congress will act to preserve the pensions and healthcare benefits they worked hard to earn. Mr. Speaker, our coal miners and their widows deserve the pensions and benefits they were promised. However, the funds for these vital programs are running out--and time is running out to fix these critical issues. We have a solution. In the House, it is called the Coal Healthcare and Pensions Protection Act, legislation I proudly cosponsored, along with Alex Mooney of the Second Congressional District of West Virginia. This legislation was introduced by our fellow West Virginian, Congressman David McKinley. A companion bill has also been introduced in the Senate. I want to share the words of a West Virginian who watched her father spend 30 years in the mines. Sherri Armstrong of Boone County wrote me, urging Congress to protect the benefits that her father had earned. She said her dad worked every shift available and counted every penny he earned. He took pride in his job, but his future is now in jeopardy. Here is what she wrote: For decades, their work provided for their communities, State, and Nation. If something is not done, and their benefits not protected, many of these people will be forced to either return to the workforce or to lose all they worked for and depend on public assistance to sustain them their remaining days. Our coal miners made this country what it is today. They mined the coal that made the steel that built the skyscrapers and won world wars. These miners and their families deserve no less than what they worked their entire lives to earn: the peace of mind that comes with a pension. I urge Congress to act. Pass this important legislation and protect our miners and their families.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, opioid and drug addiction are wreaking havoc in communities and States across the Nation. Hospitals and first responders are stretched to the limit. Families and friends are trying to get their loved ones the help they so desperately need. The disease of addiction has become all too common in our States and in our neighborhoods, but it is still hidden behind a stigma, a fear of asking for help. That is why we are marking this week as Prescription Drug and Opioid Epidemic Awareness Week, to spread the word and to encourage those struggling with addiction to get the help that they need. My district in West Virginia has some of the highest drug overdose rates in the Nation, but I want to highlight how our cities and counties are fighting back. On August 15, my hometown of Huntington faced a true crisis as call after call came in of people who had overdosed on heroin. It has become far too common in Huntington for first responders to go out on a few calls a day for people who have overdosed, but this August day was unlike any other. Within a few hours, 28 people overdosed, likely from just one batch of heroin--28 people in 5 hours in a city of less than 50,000 people. Our first responders--EMTs and police--carry an opioid-reversing drug and rushed to their aid. Time and time again, they brought people back from the brink of death. Without the tireless work of the first responders and our healthcare workers, Huntington would have lost many more lives. Possibly the most victimized of all the victims of the drug crisis is a newborn baby having to suffer through withdrawal after birth from exposure to drugs during pregnancy. Along with a group of passionate healthcare professionals and community leaders, a facility called Lily's Place was opened. For more than a year now, over 100 newborn babies have received the care they need to get through the effects of withdrawal. Another story of a community coming together to combat the drug crisis is from Mercer County. Mercer County Fellowship Home focuses on treating men suffering from substance abuse, working to make them productive members of society again. A current resident said that, thanks to the help he received there, he now has the confidence to stay employed and to further his education. The director of Mercer County Fellowship, Jim McClanahan, said it best when he told me: Opiates are ruining and taking lives. We are giving them opportunities so that no one person or family has to continue living life scared and feeling as if they don't count or matter. Centers like the Mercer County Fellowship Home offer those addicted to drugs and opioids a chance to change their lives and their communities. These are just three examples of how our cities and towns are making a difference. Sometimes it is our first responders saving lives of those who have overdosed, giving them an opportunity to get the help they need, or a caring group of healthcare professionals and community leaders developing a new model of care so drug-exposed babies can have the best chance at a healthy start in life. Other times the help comes in the form of a welcoming group of people who are committed to recovery. We can stop the opioid epidemic and heal our cities, our towns, and our States. In these tough times, we must come together and find solutions. Here in the House, we have shown what we can do working together. We passed CARA with overwhelming bipartisan support. There is hope in West Virginia, and there is hope in the United States. There is help available for those in need. Together, we can make a difference.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, as the Congressman representing West Virginia's Third Congressional District, I am proud to call Hershel ``Woody'' Williams a constituent. I first met Woody more than 18 years ago when I was first elected to the State legislature, and he has been a constituent of mine for the past two decades. But I am just as proud to call Woody my friend. Over the years, at countless legislative committee hearings, veterans' recognition and appreciation events, Veterans Day, and Memorial Day commemorations, Woody has been there fighting for our veterans. Woody always has a kind word, a friendly smile, and an optimistic outlook. I have two sons that became Eagle Scouts. Very often our local Scout council gets the newly awarded Eagles all together, and Woody is invited to come in and spend a little time with the boys and share a few thoughts. I can't tell you the power of the impact it had on my boys when Woody shook their hand, looked them in the eye, and challenged them to conduct their life according to the Scout oath and motto--to do their duty to God and country. Woody truly embodies that motto. Throughout West Virginia and the Nation, Woody is best known for his brave efforts in the Pacific theater during World War II. At a critical point in the Battle of Iwo Jima, and with minimal backup, Corporal Williams heard the call and acted. He disregarded his personal safety. He thought not of the seemingly monumental task in front of him. He did not stop to calculate the odds of success--or the odds of failure. He acted. He picked up his flamethrower, and he ran towards those trying to take him out; and he did it again and again and again. He did so because he believed in something greater than himself, because his country asked him, and he answered. He was there in that place and at that time when his country--our country--needed him the most. Woody is the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient from the Battle of Iwo Jima, and he is celebrating his 93rd birthday on October 2. I join my State and a grateful Nation in thanking Woody Williams for his service and in wishing him a wonderful birthday.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Chairman, again, listening to the critical nature of this issue about communication--I served 18 years in our State legislature. One of the great awakenings to me up here was the fact that, once we pass a law and we tell the administration, who tells an agency to craft a rule to carry out that law, under the Federal system, the agency can do essentially whatever it wants to do. That rule doesn't officially come back and not go into effect until the Congress gives its stamp of approval. The agency basically can do almost anything it wants. The role, responsibility, and power of Congress is somewhat limited. In the State legislature, a rule had to come back in West Virginia and get the full approval of the legislature once again. That was the voice of the legislature to say: We think you got it right, agency, or not. We don't have that luxury here. That is why in this rulemaking process, the communication as the draft rule and proposed final rule get published, we run into the issue where an agency, through all these incredible communication tools, might cross the line and actually try to influence the public comments to bolster their rule, essentially lobbying for their own rule. That is simply wrong. We need to have a clearly defined rule. That is what this bill does. We need to put the power back in the people and to make sure that they are not unduly influenced by an agency that is simply trying to sell their rule. Communicating with the public is important. We have incredible communication tools. That is a positive thing. But they have to be used in the right way, and that is why this legislation makes sure that they are used in the right way and why this is so important.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for his leadership on this important issue. Congress and the courts have stated time and again, agencies cannot use taxpayer funds to lobby Congress on rules and regulations. It is supposed to be perfectly clear, but, unfortunately, we have seen that this administration thinks it is above the law, disregarding the clear differences between disseminating information and lobbying. In 2004, The New York Times--yes, The New York Times--reported on the EPA's use of taxpayers' funds for a propaganda campaign to promote its proposed clean water rule. The minority talks about muzzling. Well, we do need to muzzle propaganda. At the same time the EPA was working with outside groups to actively promote the rule on social media like Facebook and Twitter, this covert propaganda came, despite the clear line that prohibits Federal agencies from engaging and lobbying on causes. Enough is enough, Mr. Chairman. Federal agencies should not be using taxpayer dollars to lobby on behalf of rules and regulations they are issuing, as The New York Times pointed out and discovered. I have heard from farmers, manufacturers, miners, and more in West Virginia about their concerns with rules such as waters of the U.S. Their concerns are legitimate, and the EPA should not be drowning out criticism by actively lobbying for their own rules on social media. This is a commonsense bill. This deserves bipartisan support by all Members of Congress. It shouldn't matter which party is in control of Congress or which party is in the White House. It is simply good policy. I encourage approval of this legislation.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, during two townhall meetings recently, I had the opportunity to hear from our veterans about the care they are receiving from VA hospitals. They want, they need--no, they deserve--a VA healthcare system that works for them, one that gives them timely care, one that treats our veterans with respect and one that holds VA bureaucrats accountable. I am proud to support H.R. 5620, a necessary step to getting the VA working again for our veterans. I will not stand for a system that rewards Washington bureaucrats for failing to do their job. There are a lot of good, caring people at the VA and their employees at our hospitals, and we need to make sure they have an environment and system where they can serve our veterans. I stand with our veterans, and for the commonsense reforms to the problems that they are facing. I will continue to work to make sure the VA is held accountable; that veterans receive the best health care in the country--no, in the world--and that a broken system is fixed. Our veterans have sacrificed so much for us, and we must keep the promises we have made to them.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Speaker, September 17-23 is Constitution Week, where we celebrate the document and principles that are the foundation of this great Nation. Constitution Day on the 17th marks the ratification of this great document. The Constitution is the basis of our Nation. It is the reason we are here today. It lays out the fundamental principles and structures of our Nation and our government. And the Bill of Rights makes clear the rights we enjoy as Americans and the fact that the Federal Government cannot infringe on these rights. Every decision I make as a Member of Congress is informed by the words written in the pages of this Constitution. All over the world, our Constitution stands as a pillar of justice, freedom, and good governance. Other countries look to our Constitution for guidance as they write their own constitutions and establish their own democracies. As we celebrate Constitution Week, I also want to recognize the great work of the Daughters of the American Revolution, including the chapters in my district, for their efforts to educate America about this document and its history. We owe a debt of gratitude to our Founding Fathers in crafting this great document, a Constitution that has stood the test of time. VA Accountability

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Without the good jobs coal provides, families are having to make tough decisions, decisions that will impact these individuals' lives: How will they get their bills paid? How will they make their car payment or their house payment? It is time we stand up for these hardworking miners, their families, and American energy. Therefore, I urge opposition to this amendment.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this amendment. Over the last few days, we have heard from our colleagues across the aisle that it is the market that is responsible for the downturn in coal, not this administration's regulations. But if you issue regulation upon regulation that completely overhauls the entire industry sector, is that really just the market at work? Instead of acknowledging that it is the onerous regulations that play a big part in the problems impacting the coal industry, this administration has blamed coal's troubles on the market; and, incredibly, this has been what our friends on the opposite side of the aisle seem to agree with. They are minimizing the devastating impacts of regulations like Office of Surface Mining's proposed stream protection rule. So let me tell you about the real-world consequences: lost jobs, lost revenues, lost taxes, lost resources. The stream protection rule would reduce total recoverable coal by 65 percent. That means a decrease of $3 billion in coal taxes. Our towns and counties rely on the revenue to pay for schools, police, emergency services, and so much more. A big drop in coal production means a big drop in good-paying jobs. Over 100,000 jobs are at risk because of this rule. Coal puts food on the table, pays the bills, and supports our families.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Chairman, again, let me make reference to what the existing EPA regulations do. There are current regulations, but the exemptions from the current regulation, as it stands right now, are for those glass manufacturers that are noncontinuous furnaces and produce under a certain amount of tonnage of glass each year. The EPA is looking at changing those regulations. We are not trying to carve-out a new exemption. We are just trying to sustain and contain in the current law the exemptions for the noncontinuous furnaces and those under a certain amount of tonnage. So we are not making any changes. We are simply trying to maintain the current exemption because we see the EPA out looking to make changes to eliminate the current exemptions that exist in the law. Once again, another step of the EPA overreach that will be jeopardizing the small glass manufacturers that mean so much to not only our employment base, but also our heritage. I encourage support for my amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Chairman, my amendment to the bill today is very straightforward. What it would do is preserve our Nation's specialty glass manufacturers from EPA overregulation. Specialty glass manufacturers, these are the small businesses. These are facilities typically employing less than 50 employees. Yet, they produce the stained glass windows that adorn our churches, decorative vases, commemorative and artisan products. West Virginia has a proud tradition of specialty glass manufacturing. In fact, one of the oldest companies is Blenko Glass in Milton, West Virginia, which is in my district. Its limited edition pieces are prized by collectors and have been handed down through generations. Let me give my colleagues a sense of where some of the Blenko Glass is today: Colonial Williamsburg, Westminster Abbey--the replacement glass for antique windows at the White House is from Blenko Glass. Jackie Kennedy actually used Blenko Glass at the White House--the Cadet Chapel at the Air Force Academy in Colorado, St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. And that beautiful award from the Country Music Association that is given out to the recipient, it is a piece of Blenko Glass. This is proud American tradition, and that tradition is now in jeopardy. Blenko, like all other specialty glass manufacturers in the Nation, is facing changes to the standards that would make it harder to make glass. The EPA is considering revising the current regulation to make it harder for these small businesses to simply make glass. My amendment would simply protect specialty glass manufacturers that use noncontinuous furnaces for their glassmaking. The rules for continuous furnaces for the bigger glass-producing facilities, which produce items like glass bottles, cookware, and windows, would still apply under current regulation. I urge my colleagues' support for this amendment to protect our Nation's small, specialty, and often family-owned, glass manufacturers. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Chair, I rise to offer my amendment, No. 62, as printed in the rule.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Chairman, here we go again. Just two amendments ago we had something called the social cost of carbon. Well, yes, the administration has now put out a new methane rule. Guess what. Social cost of methane is now being put forth as the economic justification for their rules. I pointed out just a moment ago that despite the OMB's circular recommending a certain discount rate, unfortunately when running the numbers, apparently the Agency doesn't get the results they want, so what they do is change the underlying assumptions. I rise in opposition to this amendment. This amendment would remove a critical provision to protect against new, expansive methane regulations that could harm the economy, would harm the economy, and strangle our domestic energy portfolio. These regulations are being developed using the same overly aggressive interpretation of the Clean Air Act that was responsible for the costly, burdensome Clean Power Plan. What is interesting on this one, however, is that even the EPA found that the methane rule would provide only marginal benefits. But they plow ahead regardless of that finding. I urge the opposition to this amendment.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Chair, folks, here is what is going on: the EPA and other Federal agencies are increasingly using this thing called social cost of carbon in their environmental rulemaking. So what is social cost of carbon? It is an ambiguous and confusing matrix that has been used simply to justify the validity of many of the administration's clean air environmental regulations that target the direct and indirect carbon dioxide emissions from various sources. Since its very first use, the administration has recalculated the models multiple times in order to inflate the supposed cost of small increases in CO2 in the atmosphere and, thus, supposed benefits. What is most outrageous is that the administration, which the minority here says is just simply trying to put in the economic factors, is actually ignoring the Office of Management and Budget's circular A-4, which explicitly states that ``a real discount rate of 7 percent should be used as a base-case for regulatory analysis.''.'' Guess what. They ran the numbers. Seven percent doesn't get them what they need from the social costs, so what they do is ignore OMB and come up with their own factors. That is the deceptive nature of their supposed cost factor. Change the underlying assumptions, change the factors, get the results you want that justify your findings. Folks, that is not how we should be doing it. I strongly urge opposition to this amendment.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Chair, we, as a country, should be pursuing a true all-of-the-above approach to energy-electricity generation. Unfortunately, this administration's power plant rules would pick winners and losers. It would determine the market for coal, cost miners their jobs, and raise energy prices for all Americans. The EPA has exceeded its legal authority by double regulating coal- fired power plants and by forcing States to fundamentally shift their energy portfolios away from coal. It sets standards for new coal-fired power plants that are based on technologies which have not even been proven to be commercially available. While this administration is using every regulatory effort that is possible to put our hardworking coal miners in the unemployment line, we are pushing back here on the Appropriations Committee. We included this important provision in this bill to protect miners, to protect families, and to protect businesses and our economy. The chairman is exactly right when he references the United States Supreme Court. The other side would simply take casually the fact that there is no legal authority for the administration to pursue the rules and regulations like in this particular case. It is critically important that we oppose this amendment.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Madam Chairman, I do also rise in opposition to this amendment. As a Member representing southern West Virginia, I know firsthand the effect a rewrite of the fill material regulations would have on coal mining operations. What this amendment would do would freeze operations and lead to even further layoffs on top of the more than 10,000 jobs we have lost in just the last 5 years. As the chairman referenced, in last year's omnibus, Congress included--Congress included--similar legislation preventing the EPA and the Corps of Engineers from changing the definition of fill material. Unfortunately, redefining fill material would harm both existing and future operations in the coal mining business, resulting in the loss of thousands of good jobs. Congress should include this provision to prohibit the EPA from changing the definition of fill material, and I urge opposition.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Chairman, this is a critically important issue--the prohibition that is contained in this bill-- relating to this incredible overreach of the regulatory authority from this administration. The stream buffer zone rule is similar in character to so many of the efforts of this administration to empower the EPA and, in this case, the Office of Surface Mining to do things that are without legal basis and authority under the law. What is very important about this provision in this bill is saying no to this administration, no, once again, to a regulatory overreach that is not founded in basis of law. I strongly urge the rejection of this amendment so we maintain the language that is contained in the Interior appropriations bill saying no to this administration's overreach of the rules and regulations. I suggest and encourage a rejection of this amendment.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. I urge our colleagues on the other side of the aisle to recognize the devastating impact these rules are already having. Please support our efforts. I encourage support of this excellent measure.

Mr. JENKINS of West Virginia. Mr. Chair, I thank the chairman, the ranking member, and the staff for all their hard work on this legislation. This bill is notable for what it funds and also for what it doesn't fund. West Virginians love our clean water. We love our clean air. We love our mountains and our forests. We worked hard on this bill to ensure West Virginia's priorities were maintained and addressed. We included full funding, $480 million, for a program that provides important resources for local schools and counties like Pocahontas, Greenbrier, Nicholas, Webster, and Fayette in my district. We have also provided an additional $90 million for the abandoned mine lands pilot program. This will continue to restore these sites in West Virginia and return them to productive economic use; agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, and much, much more. What West Virginians do not love in this President's war on coal is its impact. West Virginians' jobs and our families' livelihoods are on the line. Once again, the President requested hundreds of millions of dollars to spend on regulations, programs, and lawyers to make it harder for West Virginians and our Nation to mine and use coal. Our State has lost more than 10,000 coal jobs over the last 5 years, due to this administration's policies. Our counties are being devastated, losing revenue from the coal severance tax that funds schools, hospitals, emergency services, and so much more. Our coal miners live with uncertainty, wondering if this is the day they will get a pink slip when they come out of the mines. The President's war on coal is bankrupting the health and retirement of seniors and widows, jeopardizing their financial security. Today, we say ``no'' to funding the war on coal and ``no'' to regulatory overreach. In this bill, we hold the line on the EPA. We cut their regulatory budget. We maintain the lowest agency staffing level since 1989. We halt the harmful, job-killing rules at EPA and Office of Surface Mining, rules that would make electricity more expensive, rules like the stream buffer zone rule that would shut down even more mines, rules that would expand the EPA's reach and impose unrealistic standards on our communities.