SENATE BILL: Anthracite Region Investment Act (Passed)

[Esteemed Jimmy]

This is an important bill that will help struggling counties in the state of Pennsylvania Atlasia due to the decline in coal mining and production.

[Esteemed Jimmy]

Why only the state of Pennsylvania? Aren't there many more coal producing counties?

Anthracite is exclusive to NE PA. It was used in furnaces and steam locomotives and wasn't good for much else. When the furnaces and locomotives went to oil and diesel anthracite mining in the Scranton area died.

Yeah that's basically a good summary.

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/106/hr4314/details

This is based off that IRL bill above that was originally sponsored by:

Kanjosrki, Paul [D-PA11]
Gekas, George [R-PA17]
Holden, Tim [D-PA6]
Sherwood, Donald “Don” [R-PA10]
Walsh, James “Jim” [R-NY25]

[Esteemed Jimmy]

Maps of the areas this bill will effect —

Carbon: http://files.dep.state.pa.us/Mining/Abandoned%20Mine%20Reclamation/AbandonedMinePortalFiles/Roundtable/County_Maps/Carbon.pdf
Columbia: http://files.dep.state.pa.us/Mining/Abandoned%20Mine%20Reclamation/AbandonedMinePortalFiles/Roundtable/County_Maps/Columbia.pdf
Lackawanna: http://files.dep.state.pa.us/Mining/Abandoned%20Mine%20Reclamation/AbandonedMinePortalFiles/Roundtable/County_Maps/Lackawanna.pdf
Luzerne: http://files.dep.state.pa.us/Mining/Abandoned%20Mine%20Reclamation/AbandonedMinePortalFiles/Roundtable/County_Maps/Luzerne.pdf
Northumberland: http://files.dep.state.pa.us/Mining/Abandoned%20Mine%20Reclamation/AbandonedMinePortalFiles/Roundtable/County_Maps/Northumberland.pdf
Schuylkill: http://files.dep.state.pa.us/Mining/Abandoned%20Mine%20Reclamation/AbandonedMinePortalFiles/Roundtable/County_Maps/Schuylkill.pdf

[Esteemed Jimmy]

I've had my disagreements with Jimmy but this isn't one of them.

Odd thing to emphasize, but yea this region has been left behind for decades and it is something that could use a plan to rebuild and invest in the area.

Yeah this bill is greatly needed; things have been getting much worse lately.

[Esteemed Jimmy]

I'll support this, though I don't really understand why we're only helping the Athracite Region and not other coal-producing regions of Appalachia.

Then the question becomes one of structure for such an expanded program.

I have additional bills that cover this topic area that will be introduced shortly.

[Esteemed Jimmy]

No objections. More bills will be coming.

[Esteemed Jimmy]

Aye

[Esteemed Jimmy]

Glad to see this important bill will pass.