Information about the vote from special interest groups and other information providers in our Report Cards:
AFL-CIO
Mine Safety.
S. 2803—More coal miners were killed on the job in the first five months of 2006 than in any full year since 2001. Coal mine safety advocates said the Bush administration and the Mine Safety and Health Administration had failed to strengthen safety regulations and failed to strongly enforce the regulations on the books. In May, the Senate passed the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act (S. 2803), and the House considered S. 2803 under procedural rules that did not allow for amendments. Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) objected to this suspension of the rules, which prevented him from offering amendments to improve the bill.
S. 2803 requires coal operators to develop and implement accident-response plans that mandate additional oxygen, improved communication and tracking, and enhanced training. The bill also calls for these standards to be upgraded as new technology becomes available, requires ready availability of mine rescue teams, establishes stronger standards for sealing abandoned mine areas, calls for research and recommendations on belt flammability and puts more teeth in mine safety enforcement by enhancing penalties for flagrant violations and setting mandatory minimum penalties for the most serious violations. The House passed S. 2803.International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
Mine Safety.
More coal miners were killed on the job in the first five months of 2006 than in any full year since 2001. Coal mine safety advocates said the Bush administration and the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration had failed to strengthen safety regulations and failed to strongly enforce the regulations on the book. S. 2803 requires coal operators to develop and implement accident-response plans that mandate additional oxygen, improved communication and tracking and enhanced training. The bill also calls for these standards to be upgraded as new technology becomes available, requires ready availability of mine-rescue teams, establishes stronger standards for sealing abandoned mine areas, and enhances penalties for flagrant violations. The House passed S. 2803.