III 

109TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 370 

Honoring the sacrifice and courage of the 16 coal miners killed in various 

mine disasters in West Virginia, and recognizing the rescue crews for 

their outstanding efforts in the aftermath of the tragedies. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 8, 2006 

Mr. BYRD (for himself, Mr. ROCKEFELLER, Mr. ENZI, and Mr. KENNEDY) 

submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring the sacrifice and courage of the 16 coal miners 

killed in various mine disasters in West Virginia, and 

recognizing the rescue crews for their outstanding efforts 

in the aftermath of the tragedies. 

Whereas coal generates more than half of domestic electricity, 

providing millions of Americans with energy for their 

homes and businesses; 

Whereas West Virginia is the Nation’s second largest coal 

producing State; 

Whereas an average of 7,600 pounds of coal per person per 

year is used in the United States; 

Whereas the United States has an estimated 

275,000,000,000 tons of recoverable coal reserves rep-
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•SRES 370 ATS

resenting about 95 percent of all fossil fuel reserves in 

the nation; 

Whereas coal continues to be the economic engine for many 

communities; 

Whereas coal miners are among the most productive of all 

American workers, producing 7 tons of coal per miner 

per day, which results in coal consistently being the most 

cost-effective choice for generating electricity in the 

United States; 

Whereas during the last century over 100,000 coal miners 

have been killed in mining accidents in the Nation’s coal 

mines; 

Whereas the Nation is greatly indebted to coal miners for the 

difficult and dangerous work they perform to provide the 

fuel needed to operate the Nation’s industries and to provide energy to homes and businesses; 

Whereas 13 West Virginia miners were trapped 260 feet 

below the surface in the Sago mine for over 40 hours following an explosion on January 2, 2006; 

Whereas Federal, State, and local rescue crews worked relentlessly in an attempt to save the miners; 

Whereas many residents of Upshur County, West Virginia, 

and the surrounding areas came together at the Sago 

Baptist Church to support the miners’ families; 

Whereas 12 miners, Thomas Anderson, Alva Martin Bennett, 

Jim Bennett, Jerry Groves, George Hamner Jr., Terry 

Helms, David Lewis, Martin Toler, Fred Ware Jr., Jack 

Weaver, Jesse Jones, and Marshall Winans, lost their 

lives on January 3, 2006; 

Whereas only one miner, Randal McCloy, was safely rescued; 
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•SRES 370 ATS

Whereas 2 West Virginia miners were trapped by a fire in 

the Aracoma Alma Mine on January 19, 2006; 

Whereas Don Israel Bragg and Ellery ‘‘Elvis’’ Hatfield lost 

their lives in the Aracoma Alma Mine; 

Whereas 2 West Virginia miners lost their lives in separate 

incidents in Boone County on February 1, 2006; and 

Whereas Edmund Vance perished in the Long Branch No. 18 

Mine and Paul Moss perished at the Elk Run Black Castle mine: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes Thomas Anderson, Alva Martin 

3 Bennett, Jim Bennett, Jerry Groves, George 

4 Hamner Jr., Terry Helms, David Lewis, Martin 

5 Toler, Fred Ware Jr., Jack Weaver, Jesse Jones, 

6 and Marshall Winans for their sacrifice in the Sago, 

7 West Virginia, coal mine; 

8 (2) recognizes Don Israel Bragg and Ellery 

9 ‘‘Elvis’’ Hatfield for their sacrifice in the Aracoma 

10 Alma, West Virginia coal mine; 

11 (3) extends the deepest condolences of the Na12 tion to the families of these men; 

13 (4) recognizes Edmund Vance and Paul Moss 

14 for their sacrifice in the Boone County, West Vir15 ginia coal mines; 

16 (5) recognizes Randal McCloy for his stamina 

17 and courage that enabled him to survive in severe 

18 conditions for over 40 hours; 
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•SRES 370 ATS

1 (6) recognizes the rescue crews for their out2 standing effort resulting in the safe rescue of Randal 

3 McCloy; and 

4 (7) recognizes the many volunteers who pro5 vided support for the miners’ families during the 

6 rescue operations. 

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