III
111th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 487
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 15, 2010
Mr. Byrd (for himself, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Harkin, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Reid, Mr. McConnell, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Begich, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Bond, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Brown of Massachusetts, Mr. Brown of Ohio, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Bunning, Mr. Burr, Mr. Burris, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Carper, Mr. Casey, Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Coburn, Mr. Cochran, Ms. Collins, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Corker, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Crapo, Mr. DeMint, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Ensign, Mr. Feingold, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Franken, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Graham, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Gregg, Mrs. Hagan, Mr. Hatch, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Isakson, Mr. Johanns, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Kaufman, Mr. Kerry, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Kyl, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Leahy, Mr. LeMieux, Mr. Levin, Mr. Lieberman, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Lugar, Mr. McCain, Mrs. McCaskill, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Merkley, Ms. Mikulski, Ms. Murkowski, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr. Pryor, Mr. Reed, Mr. Risch, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Sessions, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Shelby, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Specter, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Tester, Mr. Thune, Mr. Udall of Colorado, Mr. Udall of New Mexico, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Warner, Mr. Webb, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Wicker, and Mr. Wyden) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to
RESOLUTION
Honoring the coal miners who perished in the Upper Big Branch Mine-South in Raleigh County, West Virginia, extending the condolences of the United States Senate to the families of the fallen coal miners, and recognizing the valiant efforts of the emergency response workers.
Whereas coal mining is a time-honored profession;
Whereas coal miners and the families of coal miners have shaped the rich history and culture of the State of West Virginia and the United States;
Whereas the United States is greatly indebted to coal miners for the difficult and dangerous work performed by coal miners to provide the fuel necessary to keep the United States strong and secure;
Whereas the United States has long recognized the importance of health and safety protections for coal miners laboring in extreme and dangerous conditions;
Whereas accidents in coal mines have repeatedly taken the lives of coal miners;
Whereas, following an explosion on April 5, 2010, 29 coal miners from the State of West Virginia tragically perished in the Upper Big Branch Mine-South;
Whereas the explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine-South was the worst coal mining disaster in the United States during the 40 years prior to the date of the agreement to this resolution;
Whereas Federal, State, and local rescue crews worked tirelessly in a courageous rescue and recovery effort after the explosion;
Whereas the families of the fallen coal miners have suffered an immeasurable loss; and
Whereas residents of Raleigh County and the State of West Virginia came together to support the families of the fallen coal miners: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate—
recognizes the ultimate sacrifice made by the 29 coal miners lost at the Upper Big Branch Mine-South in Raleigh County, West Virginia;
extends the deepest condolences of the United States Senate to the families of the fallen coal miners;
honors the survivors of the tragedy;
recognizes all coal miners for—
enduring the immeasurable loss of coworkers; and
maintaining courage in the aftermath of the explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine-South;
commends the valiant efforts of the emergency response workers searching for the missing coal miners after the explosion; and
honors the many volunteers who provided support and comfort for the families of the missing coal miners during the rescue and recovery operations.