Rep. Yarmuth Defends Kentucky Mountains on House Floor

During debate in the U.S. House of Representatives on a budget resolution, Rep. John Yarmuth defended the people and land of Appalachia. He asked his colleagues to vote against an amendment that would de-fund the U.S. EPA's authority to implement rules to keep coal companies from poisoning the waters that flow through communities where coal is mined.

You can view Yarmuth's floor speech here.

The amendment was one of number Republican-sponsored amendments to keep the EPA and other federal agencies from doing its job. It was directed specifically at EPA's guidance on in-stream conductivity. Since many streams in eastern Kentucky are already so badly polluted, under the rule no new pollution could be permitted until the streams recover.

Despite Yarmuth's effort, the amendment passed 235-185.

A similar amendment – to de-fund EPA’s authority to veto valley fills permits under the Clean Water Act – also passed, 240-182.

U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler also voted against the amendments but Kentucky's four Republican representatives – including Rep. Hal Rogers whose constituency is being poisoned by this pollution – voted for the amendments.

Another amendment that passed would "prohibit the use of funds by EPA to develop, propose, finalize, implement, administer, or enforce any regulation that identifies or lists fossil fuel combustion waste as hazardous waste subject to regulation." This targets an EPA effort to start protecting communities – such as the neighborhoods around a coal ash dump expansion in southwestern Jefferson County – from exposure to coal ash toxins.

In this case, Rep. Chandler joined the Republicans in passing this amendment, 239-182.