III 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 487 

Honoring the coal miners who perished in the Upper Big Branch MineSouth 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. 

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 


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2 

•SRES 487 ATS 

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 


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3 

•SRES 487 ATS 

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 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes the ultimate sacrifice made by 

3 the 29 coal miners lost at the Upper Big Branch 

4 Mine-South in Raleigh County, West Virginia; 

5 (2) extends the deepest condolences of the 

6 United States Senate to the families of the fallen 

7 coal miners; 

8 (3) honors the survivors of the tragedy; 

9 (4) recognizes all coal miners for— 

10 (A) enduring the immeasurable loss of co11 workers; and 

12 (B) maintaining courage in the aftermath 

13 of the explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine14 South; 

15 (5) commends the valiant efforts of the emer16 gency response workers searching for the missing 

17 coal miners after the explosion; and 

18 (6) honors the many volunteers who provided 

19 support and comfort for the families of the missing 

20 coal miners during the rescue and recovery oper21 ations. 

Æ 


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