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Rep. Kelly Defends Coal at Capitol Hill Rally

October 31, 2013

Rep. Kelly: “I know what’s beneath our surface. I know what American energy independence relies on. … Coal is the answer.”

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WASHINGTON — Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA) addressed thousands of coal-related workers at the “Rally for American Energy Jobs” on the West Lawn of the United States Capitol earlier this week on Tuesday, October 29, 2013. The rally was hosted by the National Mining Association’s (NMA) Count on Coal initiative and featured more than 30 pro-coal congressional speakers.

Highlights from Rep. Kelly’s remarks:

“I know you’re all here for one reason and one reason only. There’s no way in hell we’re gonna let them [the Environmental Protection Agency] take this [coal production] away from us. And if you drove the whole way down here today just to expect people to get up and talk to you in a nice manner — that’s not who we are. That’s not where we come from. We tell it like it is because it has to be told. This battle is not an option. This president and this administration have reduced us down to where we don’t matter anymore. The hell we don’t!”

“I’ve been to the Bailey Mine with Consol [Energy] down 700 feet. I’ve been with Rosebud. I’ve been with John Stilley for Amerikohl. I know what’s beneath our surface. I know what American energy independence relies on. It relies on you. These people will shut down not only your mines. They will shut down your towns; they take your jobs, they take your future, and tell you, ‘You need to keep backing us.’ The hell we do!”

“We have sources of energy right now. It is abundant, it is accessible, and it is affordable. … When we have something that’s so sustainable, so affordable, creates so many jobs, and gives us an advantage over the rest of the world when it comes to the cost of energy, what are we talking about? I’m gonna tell you right now: Coal is the answer. It has always been the answer.”

“In Pennsylvania, 40 percent of our electric power comes from coal. I talk to people and ask them, ‘You know where the electricity comes from right?’ And they’ll say, ‘Yeah, that plug over there.’ And I’ll say … ‘No, it has nothing to do with that plug over there.’ It has to do with the men and women who go down beneath the surface, dig out coal, bring it back, make sure that it generates power that allows you to light your homes, cool your homes, heat your homes, run our industry, and give us access to global domination when it comes to trade. What could be more simple?”

“I know you came from West Virginia and Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio and Kentucky, and all these great states that produce this wonderful product. Don’t let it die on this lawn this afternoon. Keep it alive at home, keep it alive with your kids, keep it alive with your friends, keep it alive in your communities, keep it alive in your states. If we stay together, we win. If we break apart, we lose. … Coal forever, coal forever, coal forever!”

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