Cartwright seeks continued federal funding for abandoned mine cleanup

WILKES-BARRE — U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Moosic, this week discussed the importance of the U.S. Interior Department’s work in Northeastern Pennsylvania with Secretary Deb Haaland during a hearing of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies.

Cartwright highlighted the department’s ongoing work to preserve national parks, as well as the vital role it plays in reclaiming abandoned mine lands. He welcomed the resources that would be provided for this work by President Joe Biden’s “skinny budget” and American Jobs Plan proposals.

“From managing national parks, reclaiming abandoned mines, working with tribal communities, and protecting endangered species, the Department of Interior impacts my constituents on a daily basis,” Cartwright said. “My district is home to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, which last year alone saw over four million visitors, placing it in the top ten most visited parks. We are also home to over 300 of the thousands of abandoned mines that desperately need remediation. President Biden thankfully highlighted this need in both his skinny budget and the American Jobs Plan.”

Rep. Cartwright also noted the two bipartisan, bicameral bills he recently reintroduced — the Abandoned Mine Land Reauthorization Act (H.R. 1734) and the RECLAIM Act (H.R. 1733) — to unlock and accelerate resources to communities that have been scarred by coal mining, allowing them to repurpose hazardous mining sites into opportunities for job creation and economic growth.

Secretary Haaland expressed her support for extending the AML program that supports reclamation work in Pennsylvania and across the country.

“Extending the AML program is a priority for me, it’s a priority for the president, along with the funding in the budget and the American Jobs Plan,” Haaland said. “So I thank you so much for your leadership on this issue – on the abandoned mine lands issue. Your constituents deserve to have clean water, clean land, clean air. We all deserve that. I really feel like we can support each other on this issue and hopefully see a brighter future and not one where we’re struggling to get by.”

In March, Cartwright (D-PA-08) reintroduced two pieces of legislation to reauthorize and accelerate federal funding to reclaim abandoned mine lands in Northeastern Pennsylvania and across America. Cartwright said these two bills would help create good jobs, pave the way for new economic development and clean up waterways poisoned by toxic mine drainage.

Rep. Cartwright introduced the Abandoned Mine Land Reauthorization Act with Rep. Thompson, which reauthorizes the Abandoned Mine Land Trust Fund and expands the payments from the fund for abandoned coal mine cleanups.

He also reintroduced the Revitalizing the Economy of Coal Communities by Leveraging Local Activities and Investing More (RECLAIM) Act. This bill accelerates the release of about $1 billion in funds already collected for the Abandoned Mine Land Trust Fund to provide support for economic revitalization, diversification and development in economically distressed mining communities through the reclamation and restoration of land and water resources adversely affected by coal mining. Of these funds, Pennsylvania would receive over $300 million.

Yudichak named co-chair

of Legislative Coal Caucus

State Sen. Gene Yaw (R-23) and Sen. John Yudichak (I-14) along with Rep. Tommy Sankey (R-73) and Rep. Pam Snyder (D-50) this week announced that they will serve as Co-Chairs for the Legislative Coal Caucus during the 2021-2022 cession.

The Coal Caucus is a bipartisan, bicameral legislative caucus that focuses on supporting and enhancing Pennsylvania’s coal mining industry. The caucus serves as a forum through which legislators can become more educated about the coal industry and its significant economic value to local communities, manufacturers, and energy ratepayers.

Pennsylvania is the third largest coal producing state in the Unites States with production totaling over 49 million tons in 2019. Pennsylvania coal in addition to being used for power generation, is used to produce steel and cement.

“Pennsylvania has a long history in coal production and remains the third largest coal producing state in the nation,” said Yudichak, I-Swoyersville. “As the son and grandson of anthracite coal miners, I am pleased to join Sen. Yaw and Reps. Sankey and Snyder to continue the discussion on the role coal plays in Pennsylvania.”

Bituminous coal mining helps drive Pennsylvania’s economy, supporting nearly 18,000 direct, indirect, and induced jobs, while contributing $4 billion annually to the state’s economy. The coal industry provides family-sustaining wages and creates this economic value in communities across Pennsylvania, with multiple company locations in more than half of our counties. The industry accounts for 25 percent of the employment in some regions, up to 40 percent of the local tax base, and often serves as a community’s financial cornerstone for economic development.

Coal continues to be an essential source of power generation both in Pennsylvania and the 13 state PJM interconnection. In 2019, coal accounted for 17% of the power generated in Pennsylvania, and 24% of the power generated in the PJM. During periods high demand, coal plants are consistently relied upon when other generation sources are diverted or are not available for generation.

There are currently over 70 members of the legislative Coal Caucus.

Toohil’s bill to protect living

organ donors heads to governor

Legislation sponsored by Rep. Tarah Toohil, R-Butler Township, that would protect living organ donors in Pennsylvania was unanimously approved by the Senate on Tuesday. House Bill 203 now goes to the governor’s desk for his signature.

“My legislation is all about patient protection,” Toohil said. “We want to ensure people who make the life-saving choice to become organ donors do not face economic roadblocks because of their decision. We believe the bill will also encourage more Pennsylvanians to donate organs and more lives will be saved as a result,” said Toohil. “I am extremely grateful for the unanimous support we received in both chambers. It has taken several years, but the finish line is now in sight.”

House Bill 203, or the Living Donor Protection Act, would prohibit a life or health insurance company from discriminating against an organ or tissue donor. It would also ensure family and medical leave is provided for an eligible employee for the preparation and recovery necessary for donation surgery. In addition, the proposal would require the Department of Health to develop informational materials relating to living donors and the benefits of live organ and tissue donation.

Toohil donated a kidney to her late mother in 2003 and has been a strong advocate for organ donation during her House tenure.

• Toohil also plans to introduce legislation to create a special state commission that would make recommendations for improving Pennsylvania’s child welfare system.

Specifically, the proposed commission would be made up of 17 members from the legislative, executive and judicial branches of state government. The so-called Interbranch Commission on the Child Welfare System would conduct investigations and recommend changes to child protection laws through legislation or by rule.

“This body would be patterned after the Interbranch Commission for Juvenile Justice, which did an outstanding job of investigating deficiencies in the juvenile justice system that contributed to the Kids-for-Cash scandal in Luzerne County,” Toohil said. “That commission developed an extensive series of reform recommendations, the majority of which were implemented.”

Toohil expects the legislation to be formally introduced in the coming weeks.

License, ID card holders can

save lives as organ donors

In conjunction with the national observance of Donate Life Month in April, the Pennsylvania departments of Transportation and Health are spreading the message that driver’s license and identification card holders can easily help another person live a fuller, longer life by registering as an organ donor.

An organ donor designation can be added by selecting “Become an Organ Donor in 30 Seconds” at www.dmv.pa.gov.

“It is easy to add an organ donor designation to your driver’s license or identification card,” said PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian. “Making the decision today to become an organ donor can potentially lead to saving a life.”

Once the designation is added, individuals will receive a designation card that they must carry with them to affirm organ donor status until they renew or replace their driver’s license or identification card. There is no charge for adding the designation to your driver’s license or identification card.

More than 48 percent of current driver’s license and identification card holders are registered organ donors – that’s more than 4.9 million Pennsylvanians. More than 7,000 Pennsylvanians currently await organ transplants.