Over
the past two days, I’ve taken a road trip through some of the most
beautiful parts of our country — and had some tough and poignant
conversations.
Ashland, KYI’ve
met with families in coal communities who deserve our gratitude for the
work their parents and grandparents did to build this country. I’ve
talked to steelworkers who are frustrated that China gets away with
undercutting our jobs and businesses. And I’ve heard from railroaders
who are watching the decline in steel and coal cut the region off from
future jobs.
From the
hills of Kentucky to the coal fields of West Virginia to the small towns
of Ohio, Appalachia is a vital part of the United States. Yet too
often, the people across this region aren’t treated that way.
For
generations, Appalachian coal kept the lights on in people’s homes and
schools and kept assembly lines rolling in factories. The region’s steel
plants helped build our skyscrapers, and its chemical plants made the
products that shape modern life.
These
jobs were tough. More than 100,000 miners died on the job in the 20th
century, and more than twice that many succumbed to black lung disease.
The United Mine Workers put their lives on the line to protect miners on
the job and in retirement — and their hard-won victories have helped
strengthen the labor movement in other industries nationwide.
