At McConnell's Request, Department of Labor Issues $3.7 Million Grant to Help Harlan County Miners

Statement

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today that at his request, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) will issue $3,724,200 in National Dislocated Worker Grant funding to the Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program, Inc. (EKCEP), under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, to help support the impacted Harlan County, Kentucky coal miners and their families with employment and training services.

"The way Blackjewel has treated these miners is shameful. These Kentuckians should be paid in full for their work. I will keep working with the Labor Department and others to support these miners," Senator McConnell said. "From the beginning I've been in constant communication with the U.S. Department of Labor, urging them to do everything possible to help dislocated mine workers in Harlan. I'm grateful to Acting Secretary Pat Pizzella for answering my call and awarding National Dislocated Worker grant funding, which will provide assistance for Kentucky to help miners and their families get back on their feet."

Senator McConnell added, "Throughout my entire Senate career, it's been my privilege to be Kentucky's voice in Washington and ensure Kentucky priorities are given the attention they deserve. It's exactly what I was elected to do. As Senate Majority Leader, I'm in a better place than ever to advocate for Kentuckians with Members of the Cabinet and agencies of the federal government to bring national attention to local issues and to deliver for Kentucky families."

"The Department of Labor at the state and federal level have been instrumental in representing the Blackjewel miners since this terrible debacle began," said Harlan County Judge-Executive Dan Mosley. "The need for critical investments like this grant to further miners' education and training is a necessity. This goes hand in hand with work we're doing at the local level to further diversify our economy and provide long-term sustainable employment. I appreciate Senator McConnell's leadership in securing this funding for the adversely impacted Blackjewel miners."

"We are very thankful to Senator McConnell for his help to make this federal grant possible, especially at a time of such uncertainty for many Harlan County families," said Jeff Whitehead, Executive Director of the EKCEP. "These funds will be critical to our ongoing efforts to support and serve the dislocated workers in our region. We're glad to have a partner in Senator McConnell as we help these Kentuckians return to the workforce as quickly as possible, using their skills to transfer into high demand and rapidly growing industries." Since 2013, Senator McConnell has helped secure more than $30 million in federal funds from DOL for the EKCEP to continue its services to assist dislocated coal miners.

The recent bankruptcy of the coal company, Blackjewel LLC, affected 1,100 coal workers in Central Appalachia, significantly impacting the small community of Harlan County, Kentucky.

Today's announcement builds upon DOL's earlier support of the Harlan County coal workers in successfully winning a temporary restraining order to halt shipments of coal from Blackjewel until wages are paid. Senator McConnell applauded DOL for taking this important step for the Kentucky miners.

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