Against The Odds

It took the loss of to many lives to bring the lack of worker protections, organizational skills and authoritative rights to the attention to the general public, news and our government.

I have watched the many hearings and all the individuals involved in this land mark change. It truly was a joint effort that all involved should be proud of.

Against all odds Representative George Miller, chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee came out victorious. We need to remember all those who in our government pushed, shoved and gained ground little by little. They didn't throw in the towel and they had that Sweet Science. Thank You for doing the right thing!

The family members refused to give up and our government not only listened but acted upon the many injustices involved . I really am so very proud of the families who in the mist of their grief looked past it all and thought of those left behind.

It is not an easy task and there are so many things against the family members. Families generally don't have much knowledge of the way the system works they only know what is right and what is very wrong. Some family members hate speaking, some have lost it all, some have given up what little life they had just to make things better for others. Better for your children, spouses and parents. Although these issues existed before their loss; no one stood up for them. Families did for you and the generations to come. So just for the record Thank You for all you time, effort, concern and victory!

Representatives voted 214-199 to pass the Supplementary Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act, also called S-MINER.
The bill would improve emergency response to mine sites and require coal mines to install advance tracking technology, Democrats said.Mine operators would be required to use new coal-dust monitors to reduce miners' exposure to coal dust, which causes black-lung disease.The bill also would give the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration subpoena authority; increase penalties for safety violations; place it completely in control of a rescue site, including communication with mining families; and create an ombudsman's office to handle miners' safety complaints. The bill also would allow for independent investigations when more than one miner is killed in an accident.

Who knows maybe this will have an immediate effect...In Nome, AK Michele S. Kahler lost her 19 year old son. One of the issues involved was that MSHA did not have subpoena power and they had limited access to records and witnesses during their investigation. you see they made sure many were no longer around so they couldn't get needed information.

I have to add that this little town of Nome is amazing, so many individuals who had nothing to do with the situation has pitched in with concern and information. I have never seen so many from so many walks of life write the families and USMWF in one case. This is truly uplifting and I suppose it can not truly be understood unless the opposite happened as did with the miners families. Way to go Nome!