{Washington, D.C.}...Friday, the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration awarded the West Virginia Mine Safety Office a grant totaling more than a half million dollars to support health and safety training courses and programs designed to reduce mining accidents, injuries, and illnesses. The $563,256 grant was announced one day after U.S. Senators Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin sat down with the families of the victims of the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster at the U.S. Capitol. Despite a Democratic-backed bill called the 2010 Robert Byrd Mine Safety Protection Act, House Republicans have so far refused to take up the legislation. Senator Joe Manchin says West Virginia has worked hard to make mine safety a priority. Some UBB family members say they understand it takes time to pass important legislation like the Byrd Mine Safety Protection Act, but it's dangerous to wait too long. West Virginia passed the 2006 MINER Act within a few days of the Sago and Aracoma disasters. Congress followed suit within the year, but the federal government has not been as responsive after the UBB explosion.
