Published: July 22, 2016 |

Representative Morgan Griffith.
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An amendment to provide an extra $5 million to help revitalize the economy in coal communities in Southwest Virginia has passed the U.S. House of Representatives.

Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.), who introduced the amendment, said $5 million was initially earmarked in grant funding for the reclamation of abandoned mine lands and its subsequent development to create jobs.

“My amendment doubles that amount to $10 million,” he said.

The money is part of the Interior Appropriations bill, which also cuts funding for the Environmental Protection Agency.

In fact, Griffith said he used a small portion of the EPA’s environmental program and management account to fund the extra $5 million.

“That is a half of 1 percent in that fund,” he said. “It is negligible for them but a big shot in the arm for us.”

Griffith’s amendment actually expands on the Obama Administration’s POWER Plus program, he said, which is tackling the issue of providing support for areas hard hit by the decline in the coal industry, much of it caused by increased federal regulations on emissions.

The bill will now go to the Senate and Griffith is confident it will pass.

He has already met with both Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner of Virginia, both Democrats, and is optimistic they will support at least his part of the legislation.

“This particular part of the bill would should be fairly safe,” he said, adding that the senators may not like the source of the extra $5 million.

“If the senators don’t want to use the EPA money I think they will find another source,” he said.

Griffith said as far as he knows Virginia is the only state that has a monthly lunch with all legislators.

“While we were discussing this (the Interior Appropriations bill), they were discussing a much more expensive project (about $100 million), a bridge in Northern Virginia,” he said. “I’m just asking for $5 million, I told them. “

Griffith said the perception of always House versus Senate is not always the case.

“Most people (legislators) understand that we need help,” he said. “I think that’s the message that is getting across and you just keep saying it.”

The $10 million, if finally approved, is needed, he added.

“I really do think this has great potential to help us take land not now available for use because it has issues, reclaim the land and use it to create jobs,” he said. “I’m pretty excited about it.”

Griffith said he will continue working to handle the economic problems in the coal industry.

“While I continue fighting to defend the reasonable, rational use of coal and working to counter the ongoing regulatory onslaught on call regions, my efforts to advance economic development strategies are ongoing as well,” he said. “Frankly, the need is great in hard-hit areas like Southwest Virginia. I was encouraged that the underlying Interior Appropriations bill expands these important grants to central Appalachian coal-producing states including Virginia, and appreciate the support of my colleagues in passing my amendment.”

Much more work is needed to reinvigorate the economic prospects in the region, he said.

“But this program is essential tool to help Appalachian areas struggling with reclaiming and restoring abandoned mine sites in a way that will put people back to work,” he said.

Source: (July 15, 2016) Bluefield Daily Telegraph

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