As Senator Inhofe’s press release pasted below notes, the Senate will vote next Wednesday, 20^th June, on S. J. Res. 37.  Also note that major business groups such as NFIB are supporting the resolution because they recognize that the Utility MACT Rule is not primarily an attack on one industry or one area of the country; it is an attack on consumers and the American economy.

As Momentum Builds, Inhofe Announces Date for Utility MACT Vote 

National Federation of Independent Business, Senator Landrieu Join in Effort to Stop EPA War on Coal

Washington, D.C. - Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, announced today that he anticipates the Senate will vote on his resolution (SJR 37) to stop the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Utility MACT rule - the centerpiece of President Obama's war on coal - on Wednesday, June 20.  Senator Inhofe noted that the momentum of support continues to grow ahead of the vote: the National Federation of Independent Business has publically backed Senator Inhofe's resolution. This news comes just as Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) announced that she will vote for the measure, joining Democratic Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Ben Nelson (D-NE) in support of Senator Inhofe's efforts.

Congressman McKinley will be offering a Motion to Instruct (MTI) Conferees next week to the Highways’ Bill Conferees asking them to continue bipartisan negotiation and to resolve this legislation instead of pulling the “fly-ash” provision and hoping a separate bill could be passed later on.  With the pending lawsuit and the fact that the Obama Administration did not issue a veto threat against 2273 when it passed the House in October or when it was included as an amendment to the House Highways’ Bill, Mr. McKinley plans to offer the MTI on the House floor to again show the bipartisan support for this measure.

According to the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) weekly report, U.S. metallurgical coal exports for April 2012 are nearly 30% more than April 2011 exports.  Last month’s steam coal exports were 65% ahead of April, a year ago.  Comparing the first four months of 2012 to 2011, met coal exports are up by nearly 9% and steam coal increased by more than 30%. West Virginia’s year-to-date production (week ending June 9) is down 7.9%.

The 2012 Friends of Coal Auto Fair is set for July 20-22 at the Beckley YMCA Paul Cline Memorial SportsCenter. Saturday Night Concert line-up is Ronnie Dunn with special guest James Wesley and is being sponsored by Alpha Natural Resources. For concert tickets, pre-registration for the car show and vendors, please go to: http://www.friendsofcoalautofair.com/