Written by Thom Kay

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Thom Kay

AV's Legislative Director, Thom spends his days between Durham, NC and Washington D.C., knee deep in politics and legislation, working to persuade decision-makers to protect Appalachian communities from mountaintop removal and to invest in a new economy for the region. He is the least outdoorsy person at Appalachian Voices, and he's just fine with that.

A way forward for Appalachia

Our legislative director outlines a list of action items for the Biden administration — suspending utility shutoffs during the pandemic, strengthening oversight of the fossil fuel industry, and moving swiftly to support just economic transition in coal-impacted communities.

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Charting paths forward for coal communities

For communities that depended on coal, the pandemic is exacerbating an already-urgent set of interlocking problems. Two regional coalitions have released plans to chart a brighter future for communities hit hardest by the changing coal economy.

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Congress Needs to Pass the RECLAIM Act

Politicians like to talk about helping rural Appalachia. The RECLAIM Act is a chance for them to show that they mean it.

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Pass the RECLAIM Act

Politicians like to talk about helping rural Appalachia. The RECLAIM Act is a chance for them to show that they mean it.

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Federal spending bill: Some good, and bad news for Appalachia

Congress included funding for several programs important for Appalachian communities, but failed to include the critical RECLAIM Act.

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Foxfire Farmland

Spending Bill Sustains Appalachian Programs

While the federal budget includes funding for programs like the Appalachian Regional Commission, the bill omitted the RECLAIM Act.

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Looney Ridge

RECLAIM Act Passes House Natural Resources Committee

The RECLAIM Act would accelerate the cleanup of abandoned mines while spurring economic opportunities in coal communities.

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White House budget leaves Appalachia in the dust

The White House released its budget blueprint last week, and the proposal is nothing short of a disaster for Appalachia and rural communities across the country. Here’s a look at a few agencies and programs the White House wants to completely eliminate if it had its way.

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Congress must act to protect coal miners’ benefits

In a matter of weeks, health care benefits for thousands of retired union coal miners will run out. In just a matter of years, the entire United Mine Workers pension plan, which covers nearly 90,000 former coal miners and their widows, may become insolvent.

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America’s miners deserve better than this; time to do your part

America owes a debt to the nation’s coal miners. The Miners Protection Act would begin to pay that debt, but the opportunity for Congress to pass the bill is quickly slipping away.

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