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 Congressman Steve Daines today joined several thousand coal miners, union members and energy and manufacturing workers to protest President Obama’s war on coal and job-killing regulatory policies.

Daines spoke at today’s “Count on Coal: American Energy Jobs Rally,” held in front of the west steps of the U.S. Capitol. Daines joined more than thirty members of Congress and several dozen energy industry leaders, including Montana State Building and Construction Trades Council president and and Boilermakers Local No. 11 business manager John Roeber, in addressing the crowd that gathered at the Capitol this morning.

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“We’ve got some coal miners in Montana who think the EPA must stand for the ‘Employment Prevention Agency,’ because that’s what they’re doing right now—they’re cutting jobs,” Daines stated. “Montana has the largest recoverable coal deposits of any state in the country. It is a big deal in Montana, because it is a big deal for America. This means good paying jobs, it means low-cost energy.”

“These misguided federal regulations on coal plants do not reflect a realistic balance between environmental progress and economic sustainability,” Daines continued.“The bottom line is this: it is affordable and reliable electricity that makes this country go.”

More than 50 percent of Montana’s electricity comes from coal and Montana’s coal mining industry employs more than 1200 workers. In addition to supporting Montana schools, Montana coal production also provides valuable tax revenue that helps strengthen and maintain Montana’s infrastructure.

Daines serves as a member of the House Natural Resources Committee and Congressional Coal Caucus.

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