Press Releases

Congressman David B. McKinley, P.E., (WV-1) welcomed EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to a meeting of the Congressional Coal Caucus to discuss ways to curtail the bureaucratic overreach of the former Obama administration while advancing policies that protect the environment without hurting our domestic market for coal.

“After eight years of devastating attacks on the coal industry from the Obama administration, it is a great relief to have a leader like Scott Pruitt in charge of the EPA. He understands that we can protect our air, land, and water without picking winners and losers in our economy,” said McKinley.

“In our meeting with Administrator Pruitt he articulated his vision to pursue environmentally friendly policies that won’t attack the tens of thousands of coal miners who work so hard to power this great country. We are grateful for his willingness to work with our caucus and we look forward to strengthening our partnership on a wide range of issues that impact the coal industry,” McKinley said.

"The war on coal is over," said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt after meeting with the Congressional Coal Caucus. "Those that generate energy across America are doing so with a commitment to being pro-environment and pro-growth. The days of having to choose between those two things are over. This administration says we can and we will achieve both a healthy environment and a growing economy."

“Administrator Pruitt’s eagerness to engage with lawmakers has been a breath of fresh air here on Capitol Hill. I appreciate his willingness to meet with the Coal Caucus today, and to listen to our stories about the communities in our districts that have been devastated by the previous administration’s anti-coal agenda. Working together both legislatively and through administrative actions, I’m optimistic that this Congress and this Administration can and will protect our air and water without sacrificing jobs and affordable energy,” said Congressman John Shimkus

“I look forward to working with Administrator Pruitt, and others at the EPA, to make the EPA more efficient and to recognize that we can work towards cleaner air, cleaner water, and cleaner coal use without killing as many jobs in coal and other industries,” said Congressman Morgan Griffith

Background

The goal of the Congressional Coal Caucus is to speak with one united voice for coal communities all across America. Congressman McKinley is the Chairman of the Congressional Coal Caucus and Vice Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment. Congressman McKinley met with Administrator Pruitt in March to discuss how to stop bureaucratic overreach that devastated the coal industry during the Obama administration. To read Congressman McKinley’s op-ed in support of Administrator’s Pruitt’s nomination to the EPA, click here.