Bipartisan legislation reintroduced by U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and U.S Reps. Evan Jenkins (R-WV) and Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA) would invest $1 billion over five years into reviving struggling coal communities.
Aimed at localities that have experienced significant job losses from the downturn in the coal industry, the RECLAIM Act would release $1 billion from the Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Fund (AML) into communities to help fund economic development projects on abandoned mine sites.
“It is no secret that coal communities in West Virginia have suffered significant economic damage after eight years of harmful anti-coal policies,” Capito said. “Strengthening these distressed regions, and creating an environment where job creation and business investment can thrive is one of my top priorities. The RECLAIM Act will help fund local projects that have the potential to help the region’s economy recover.”
The bill focuses on reclamation of the nation’s remaining 6 million acres of abandoned mine land, while also enabling economic development on those sites through agency support from the Appalachian Regional Commission. Lawmakers said the investment would create new job opportunities and stimulate local economies.
The Interior Department has distributed more than $8 billion to coal communities through the AML program since 1977 to assist with reclamation, and a balance of approximately $2.4 billion remains in the fund’s existing unappropriated balance.
“The downturn in coal has decimated communities across Appalachia and hurt thousands of hardworking miners and their families,” Jenkins said. “Our towns, counties and states need the resources to rebuild, diversify our economy, attract new employers, create jobs, and give hope to the people who call Appalachia home. The RECLAIM Act will spur a new era of investment and revitalization in West Virginia and beyond.”
The Revitalizing the Economy of Coal Communities by Leveraging Local Activities and Investing More (RECLAIM) Act would distribute $200 million to participating states on an annual basis over five years. States would have flexibility to work with tribal and local governments to pursue and fund economic development projects on AML sites.
Thompson said he was eager to work with Pennsylvania’s advocates to move the bill through the legislative process.
“The RECLAIM Act is critical to Pennsylvania, especially the fifth congressional district, which is home to more abandoned mine sites than any other place in the country,” Thompson said. “Ensuring that we have adequate resources to clean up these locations will provide great economic and environmental benefits, especially to our watersheds and streams.”
Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and U.S. Reps. Hal Rogers (R-KY), Matt Cartwright (D-PA) and Morgan Griffith (R-VA) helped reintroduce the bill.