Press Releases

Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) spoke on the House floor this evening on behalf of his amendment, # 109, to the Continuing Resolution. Congressman Griffith’s amendment would rescind funding for the Environmental Protection Agency’s conductivity guidance that is bringing the permitting process for coal mines to a standstill in Appalachia. Below are highlights from Congressman Griffith’s speech:

“Amendment 109 is a time-out on the EPA. The EPA and its guidelines for the water quality coming out of mines issued on April 1, 2010 came up with a conductivity test – a test which did not go through the Administrative Procedures Act; a test which is relying on science, which is not yet fully accounted for or reliable.”

“Mr. Chairman, President Johnson had a War on Poverty. There are some in my district and in Appalachia who believe that President Obama and his EPA have a War for Poverty in the Appalachian region.”

“That conductivity test is so severe that…Evian water that you purchase to drink would not pass. Perrier water that you purchase to drink would not pass. It’s not good enough. Pellegrino is not good enough either.”

“There is a bumper sticker that is very popular now in my district that says: ‘If you think coal is ugly, wait until you see poverty!”

“Again, this, if not passed, will bring us unemployment -- not a good economy.”

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