★ 
109TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 331
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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;
•HCON 331 EH1S 
Whereas 
the 
United 
States 
has 
an 
estimated 
275,000,000,000 tons of recoverable coal reserves rep-
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 pro-
vide 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 fol-
lowing an explosion on January 2, 2006; 
Whereas Federal, State, and local rescue crews worked re-
lentlessly 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;
•HCON 331 EH1S 
Whereas only one miner, Randal McCloy, was safely rescued; 
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 Cas-
tle mine: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That Congress—
(1) recognizes 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 for their sacrifice in the Sago, 
West Virginia, coal mine; 
(2) recognizes Don Israel Bragg and Ellery 
‘‘Elvis’’ Hatfield for their sacrifice in the Aracoma 
Alma, West Virginia coal mine; 
(3) recognizes Edmund Vance and Paul Moss 
for their sacrifice in the Boone County, West Vir-
ginia, coal mines; 
(4) extends the deepest condolences of the Na-
tion to the families of these men;
•HCON 331 EH1S 
(5) recognizes Randal McCloy for his stamina 
and courage that enabled him to survive in severe 
conditions for over 40 hours; 
(6) recognizes the rescue crews for their out-
standing effort resulting in the safe rescue of Randal 
McCloy; and 
(7) recognizes the many volunteers who pro-
vided support for the miners’ families during the 
rescue operations.
Passed the House of Representatives February 8, 
2006. 
Attest:
Clerk.
109TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 331
CONCURRENT 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.