¥T ...and in honour of the 1 man who survived the 2006 Sago coal mine disaster,Randall McCloy.You will see him seated onstage to the right of President Bush in the beginning.
On June 15th,2006 President George W.Bush signed into law S. 2803, The MINER Act.
Partial text: I appreciate the workers who are here. Thanks for taking time in your day to come.
I want to welcome the families of those who mourn the loss of life. We share in your grief, and we honor the memories of your loved ones. I know it's hard. It's really hard for you. But we welcome you here. And we're honored you took time to be here.
I appreciate members of my administration who have joined us, as well, today. The hard work of American miners provides us with really important fuel. This economy is growing because of the work of our miners. Coal is an important part of our nation's present and future.
Thanks to modern technology and equipment, we've come a long way from the days when a miner would take a canary into the coal mines. Passage -- and since the passage of the Mine Safety and Health Act in '77 -- 1977, America has seen significant decreases of injuries and fatal mining accidents.
Yet events in recent months have reminded us that mining is dangerous work. That's what we've seen. This year alone, accidents have taken the lives of 33 miners in our country. Just last month, five miners were killed in a mine explosion in Harlan County, Kentucky. And in January, Americans watched and prayed -- a lot of Americans prayed -- with the people of West Virginia for the 13 miners that were trapped underground by the explosion in the Sago mine. Only one man came out, and he's with us today -- Randal McCloy, and his wife, Anna. And we welcome you all.
And we know -- we know, and I hope you know -- that your fallen mining brothers are with us here today in spirit. They're with us today with their loved ones here -- eyes wet with tears, but proud of their accomplishments. We're glad you're here.
We honor the memory of all lost miners today; that's what we're doing signing this bill. We make this promise to American miners and their families: We'll do everything possible to prevent mine accidents and make sure you're able to return safely to your loved ones.
The bill I'm about to sign is an important part of the effort. The MINER Act will build on the Mine Safety and Health Administration's ongoing efforts to enhance mine safety training, to improve safety and communications technology for miners and provide more emergency supplies of breathable air along escape routes.
This new legislation will require mine operators to report any life-threatening accident no later than 15 minutes after they know that one has occurred. And to ensure compliance with the law, the MINER Act will increase the maximum penalty for flagrant violations of mine safety regulations nearly four-fold.
To implement this new legislation, we need effective and experienced leadership at the Mine Safety and Health Administration. Last month, I named, or nominated Richard Stickler of the state of West Virginia to be the head of MSHA. He's got experience. He served for six years as the Director of Pennsylvania's Bureau of Deep Mine Safety. He was a miner, mine shift foreman, a superintendent, and a manager, and the Senate needs to confirm Richard Stickler to this key position.
America's miners work hard every day to support their families and support this country. It's hard work. You deserve the best training, the best equipment and safeguards that we can provide to protect the lives. And this good legislation I'm signing today is an important part of honoring that commitment.
May God bless you all. May God bless our miners and their families, and may God continue to bless our country.
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Sago Mineby tbonebell1,938 views
I often feel a little remorse for not being more openly pro-hemp, but it's an issue surrounded by such polemic (by design) that merely mentioning it requires anti-stoner caveatum... which i can't provide in good conscience, as i am a massive Indulger™. Hemp's villianization was (and is) a result of DuPont and Anheiser-Busch running a pincers attack on the world's ubiquitous fiber plant, though... another aspect of cannabis-anthropoda interphylogeny well worth looking into.
BobForehead 3 years ago
Sadly...yes.
I noticed on your Home Page you express deep concern over deforestation to make paper. I'm no stoner (LOL, too old for all of that) but I have to say, commercial production of hemp would solve that problem 1 2 3! And it would also provide a massive influx of bio fuel due to the massive amounts of seeds the hemp plant produces which are very rich in oil content...and the oil is edible.
Take a look into it.
Plutonwolf 3 years ago
nice one, AK - i needed a vid (or 4) for the mineral markets playlist, thnx!
BobForehead 3 years ago
¡'struth!
BobForehead 3 years ago
He appointed an industry insider to oversee the mining industry. This mans neglect led to the catastrophe in Nevada.
George knows how to stage an event, I'll grant him that. But as far as doing anything for "Joe Sixpack", don't hold your breath waiting for that blue moon to rise.
Plutonwolf 3 years ago 2
You mean George W Bush actually CARED about people?!?! Noooo, I thought he was the devil himself whose soul purpose in life is to secure oil by taking the lives of innocent children.
As flawed as he is, and as mistaken as he was to go to war in Iraq, he's not all bad, I hope the new laws have made a difference.
UntamedBlueLight 3 years ago