IV 
112TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 199 
Honoring the 29 coal miners who perished in the explosion at the Upper 
Big Branch Mine in Montcoal, West Virginia, on April 5, 2010, and 
remembering all those who have lost their lives while mining for the 
resources on which the United States relies. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 1, 2011 
Mr. RAHALL (for himself, Mrs. CAPITO, Mr. MCKINLEY, Mr. GEORGE MILLER 
of California, and Ms. WOOLSEY) submitted the following resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 
RESOLUTION 
Honoring the 29 coal miners who perished in the explosion 
at the Upper Big Branch Mine in Montcoal, West Vir-
ginia, on April 5, 2010, and remembering all those who 
have lost their lives while mining for the resources on 
which the United States relies. 
Whereas West Virginia coal miners and their predecessors 
not only have a strong commitment to providing a good 
living for their families, but also take a deep and patri-
otic pride in the fact that their work and the energy they 
produce has made the United States strong and free; 
Whereas coal mining has been, and remains, an important 
part of the economy of the United States; 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
00:20 Apr 02, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR199.IH
HR199
rfrederick on DSKD9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
•HRES 199 IH 
Whereas coal accounts for nearly 1⁄2 of the electricity pro-
duced in the United States; 
Whereas coal has been commercially mined in what is now 
the State of West Virginia since 1810; 
Whereas since 1810, West Virginia miners and their families 
have sacrificed greatly to mine the coal that powers the 
economy of the United States; 
Whereas, on April 5, 2010, 29 heroic and patriotic West Vir-
ginia miners tragically lost their lives in an explosion at 
the Upper Big Branch Mine in Montcoal, West Virginia; 
Whereas a search and rescue effort was launched immediately 
following the explosion that involved dozens of coura-
geous volunteers, first responders, and mine rescue teams 
who fearlessly risked their lives to rescue survivors and 
find lost miners; 
Whereas Carl ‘‘Pee Wee’’ Acord, Jason Matthew Atkins, 
Christopher Lee Bell, Sr., Gregory Steven Brock, Ken-
neth A. Chapman, Sr., Robert Eugene Clark, Cory Davis, 
Charles Timothy Davis, Michael Lee Elswick, William 
Ildon Griffith, Steven J. ‘‘Smiley’’ Harrah, Edward 
‘‘Dean’’ Jones, Richard Keith Lane, William Roosevelt 
Lynch, Joe Marcum, Ronald Lee Maynor, Nicolas D. 
McCroskey, James ‘‘Eddie’’ Mooney, Adam K. Morgan, 
Rex Lane Mullins, Joshua Scott Napper, Howard 
‘‘Boone’’ Payne, Jr., Dillard Earl ‘‘Dewey’’ Persinger, 
Joel R. ‘‘Jody’’ Price, Gary Wayne Quarles, Deward 
Allan Scott, Grover Dale Skeens, Benny Ray Willingham, 
and Ricky L. Workman perished in the explosion at the 
Upper Big Branch Mine; 
Whereas the terrible tragedy broke the hearts of the people 
of the United States; 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
00:20 Apr 02, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6300
E:\BILLS\HR199.IH
HR199
rfrederick on DSKD9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
•HRES 199 IH 
Whereas since the beginning of 2010, 77 miners of coal and 
other resources have lost their lives on the job, and thou-
sands more have been injured or diagnosed with occupa-
tional illnesses, such as Black Lung disease; 
Whereas the families of the deceased continue to suffer, as 
do those miners who have become seriously injured or ill; 
and 
Whereas Congress has long recognized the need to protect 
the safety and health of miners: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) honors the coal miners who lost their lives 
in the explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine in 
Montcoal, West Virginia, on April 5, 2010; 
(2) extends its continued heartfelt condolences 
to the families of the deceased, who are still looking 
for answers to the tragedy; 
(3) recognizes the hardships faced by survivors 
of the tragedy and fellow miners who worked side- 
by-side with the deceased; 
(4) acknowledges the risks faced by all miners, 
as well as the important and often over-looked con-
tributions that miners make to the United States; 
(5) expresses its appreciation for the volunteers, 
first responders, and mine rescue teams who fear-
lessly risk their lives to save miners after tragedies; 
and 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
00:20 Apr 02, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\HR199.IH
HR199
rfrederick on DSKD9S0YB1PROD with BILLS
•HRES 199 IH 
(6) reaffirms its commitment to keep miners 
safe and healthy on the job. 
Æ 
VerDate Mar 15 2010 
00:20 Apr 02, 2011
Jkt 099200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\HR199.IH
HR199
rfrederick on DSKD9S0YB1PROD with BILLS