Kentuckians looking to U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell to help take care of coal miners, their families and their communities before Congress heads home to enjoy the holidays delivers petitions to his Northern Kentucky district office in Fort Wright on Thursday.
The petitions are part of a statewide action and national campaign.
The petition bears nearly 10,000 signatures urging McConnell to help pass the RECLAIM Act legislation to accelerate the release of $1 billion from the Abandoned Mine Land Fund for economic and community development projects in areas hard hit by the decline in coal production.
Kentucky Rep. Hal Rogers is the primary sponsor of this bipartisan bill.
There also are more than 6,400 signatures calling on McConnell to allow passage of the Miners Protection Act, which would add financial stability to a coal miners pension and health fund. That bill has been stalled in the Senate since it received committee approval in March.
Though Congress may adjourn by the weekend, the legislation for both bills is already written and has bipartisan support. McConnell, as senate majority floor leader, has the power to see that the legislation is included in bills that are expected to pass before Congress adjourns.
The signatures were delivered to McConnell’s Washington, DC office earlier this week by members of Kentuckians For The Commonwealth.
A national call-in day last week generated hundreds of calls to his office.
KFTC members are visiting all of McConnell’s Kentucky field offices.
Kentuckians For The Commonwealth is a 35-year old grassroots social justice organization.
Our esteemed Senator works only for the mine owners. He acknowledges the miners only when he wants their vote.