MEDIA ADVISORY
Contact: Jodi Hirsh, 412-326-9832, [email protected]
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Organizations and elected representatives warn that proposed reckless cuts could undermine recent progress, threaten families, jobs, and health
*View the Letter Here*
APPALACHIA — Leaders and advocates from across coal country sounded the alarm in a letter to Congress today, warning that draconian cuts in proposed appropriations legislation would dramatically undercut economic development in coal-impacted communities and threaten efforts to safeguard miners. In the letter, 34 groups and elected leaders urged Congress to reject five appropriations bills that are slated for consideration before the House in the coming weeks, pushing leaders to reverse cuts and “revise the appropriations bills to better protect and uplift the people in the communities that have powered our nation for decades.”
“Appalachians are hard-working Americans who need more opportunities to succeed, not fewer. But Congress is trying to leave us in the dust,” said Dana Kuhnline, Campaign Manager of ReImagine Appalachia. “We need an economy that respects working people and provides us the tools and opportunities we need to take care of our families and contribute to our communities. Congress should be building on the successes of the past few years – not tearing them down.”
“People in coal country have stared down numerous challenges and fought tooth and nail for the progress we’ve made in recent years securing investments to grow our economy and help our communities,” said Chelsea Barnes, Director of Government Affairs and Strategy at Appalachian Voices. “These dangerous bills threaten to undermine this important start just to score a few political points and give more favors to big corporations. Congress needs to go back to the drawing board and focus on securing the investments and programs that will build upon the foundation that is being laid, not tear it to the ground.”
In May, many of the same groups speaking out today laid out a roadmap for investments and programs that could actually benefit coal-impacted communities if Congress supported them in the appropriations process. Done right, our nation’s budget for 2024 could build on major progress secured in recent legislation such as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act.
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Reimagine Appalachia is a coalition of labor, policy experts and community leaders who are making sure that everyone who lives here can have a good job and can put down roots for the future. For months, the coalition has been pushing Congress to pass major funding packages that create jobs, rebuild infrastructure, and address fires and floods caused by damage to the climate.