Rep. McKinley Urges Colleagues to Keep Coal Ash Language in Transportation Bill

Press Release

Today, a motion offered by Rep. David B. McKinley, P.E. (R-W.Va.) supporting the continued reuse of coal by-products passed with strong, bipartisan support. The motion to instruct urges members of the Conference Committee to include coal ash language in the transportation bill.

"Yet again we've shown strong bipartisan support for this provision in protecting the ability to reuse coal ash," said Rep. McKinley. "This is about saving jobs and maximizing government construction dollars. More than 316,000 jobs will be saved if this provision is included.

"This issue has been in front of Congress for the past 30 years," said Rep. McKinley. "For the first time, we have a solution for the safe disposal and reuse of coal ash under federal oversight.

"After fighting hard on this issue for over a year, I'm grateful for my colleagues' continued support. The chance to save thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in costs is one step closer because Congress has spoken in a strong, bipartisan manner," said McKinley. "My hope is that conferees continue productive negotiations on this issue."

Coal ash is a byproduct of the coal combustion process and is used in material for building highways and bridges around the country.

The motion to instruct had the support of the AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, International Brother of Boilermakers, United Mine Workers of America, Sheet Metal Workers International Association, United Transportation Union, Associated General Contractors and the Western Business Roundtable.

The coal ash bill, H.R. 2273, originally passed the House in October 2011. On April 18 of this year, the House passed the coal ash amendment in the Surface Transportation Extension Act.

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