APPALACHIAN VOICES

Support for funding for the Rural Disaster Home Repair Program, WIC, SNAP, food assistance, Rural Partners Network, and Rural Energy for America Program in FY26 appropriations bills; oppose HR 4121 and S. 2256 due to funding cuts to the DOA and related programs. Oppose cuts, rescissions, and freezes to funding to USDA Rural Energy for America, New ERA, and PACE programs related to clean energy.

Coal mining bankruptcies, lobbying for legislation to ensure money for reclamation after coal bankruptcies. No bill #s.

Support for funding in appropriations bills for OSMRE, MSHA, OSHA, EDA, USDA, FEMA, USGS, AmeriCorps, CDFI, Appalachian Regional Commission, clean energy, economic development, and rural energy; oppose H.R. 4553, HR 4121, HR 3944, HR 4754, S 2431, H.R. 5304, H.R. 5342, H.R. 5166, H.R. 4249, due to related funding cuts.

Oppose cuts to EPA and Interior funding in appropriations bills, including H.R. 4553 and H.R. 4754. Oppose S. 2750: SANDBOX Act. Support S. 2508: Gas Pipeline Leak Detection and Repair Act of 2025, to protect people from gas leaks. Oppose H.R. 4776: SPEED Act due to impacts on air and water quality. Support H.R. 4705: ACHE Act to protect communities from impacts of coal mining. Oppose H.R. 3632: Power Plant Reliability Act Oppose H.R. 3668: Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act Oppose 3898: Permit Act

Support S. 267, H.R. 76 to provide for reimbursement of repairs to private roads and bridges in North Carolina damaged by Tropical Storm Helene. Support funding for FEMA, Rural Disaster Home Repair Program, flood mitigation assistance, priority streamgages network, USGS funding in FY 26 appropriations, H.R. 4754, H.R. 4213 and S. 2431. Provide feedback on FEMA reform bills to members of Congress. Support H.R. 4669 to improve FEMA processes. Oppose HR 4553 due to agency and program cuts. Oppose rescission and freezing of funds for disaster relief provided through FEMA and EPA.

Support funding in FY26 appropriations bills for economic development efforts in Appalachia, including Appalachian Regional Commission, EDA, EPA, and USDA programs, including in H.R. 4553, HR 4121, HR 3944, HR 4754, S 2431, H.R. 5304, H.R. 5342. Oppose H.R. 1 due to ending programs supporting economic development in rural and Appalachian communities. Oppose H.R. 5342 due to funding cuts to the Economic Development Administration. Support HR 5687 to ensure people are able to heat their homes.

Support for H.R. 1373, H.R 144, and S. 1354 related to TVA transparency and salary transparency, and the TVA IRP bill (H.R. 6357) related to improving TVA's IRP process. Oppose new nominees to TVA board. Oppose bills decreasing funding for the DOE, including H.R. 4553. Support reinstating clean electric tax credits, including S. 2681: Lowering Electric Bills Act. Oppose HR 4121 due to funding cuts to the Department of Agriculture and related energy programs. Oppose H.R. 3668 Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act and H.R. 3632 Power Plant Reliability Act, due to impacts on communities dealing with harmful pollution and climate change impacts.

Support S. 2508: Gas Pipeline Leak Detection and Repair Act of 2025, to protect people from gas leaks. Oppose H.R. 3668 Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act and H.R. 3632 Power Plant Reliability Act, due to impacts on communities dealing with harmful pollution and climate change impacts.

Support for funding for NIOSH and coal workers programs to prevent black lung disease. Oppose H.R. 5304 due to related funding cuts. Support S. 2587 to fund health and labor programs. Support legislation to improve benefits for miners with black lung disease - S. 3491, H.R. 6756, S. 3505, H.R. 6757.

Support efforts to ensure adequate insurance levels for coal mining reclamation and black lung insurance.

Ensure adequate benefits for miners with black lung disease. Ensure adequate funding for MSHA and DOL to protect miners' health and safety. Support funding for reentry employment opportunities, registered apprenticeships, workforce innovation and opportunity act training and employment services grants, OSHA, and NIOSH in FY 26 appropriations bills. Oppose H.R. 5304 due to funding cuts to MSHA, DOL; Support S. 2587 to fund health and labor programs. Support legislation to improve benefits for miners with black lung disease - S. 3491, H.R. 6756, S. 3505, H.R. 6757.

No lobbying on this issue this quarter.

Ensure reclamation of coal mines. No specific bill numbers yet. Oppose cuts to EPA and Interior programs in FY 26 appropriations, including HR 4553 and H.R. 4754. Oppose H.R. 4776: SPEED Act due to impacts on air and water quality. Support H.R. 4705: ACHE Act to protect communities from impacts of coal mining. Support H.R. 2405 White Oak Resilience Act. Oppose 3898 Permit Act.

Support reinstating clean electric tax credits, including S. 2681: Lowering Electric Bills Act. Support for H.R. 1373, H.R 144, and S. 1354 related to TVA transparency and salary transparency, and the TVA IRP bill (H.R. 6357) related to improving TVA's IRP process. Oppose new nominees to TVA board. Oppose bills decreasing funding for the DOE, including H.R. 4553. Support reinstating clean electric tax credits, including S. 2681: Lowering Electric Bills Act. Oppose HR 4121 due to funding cuts to the Department of Agriculture and related energy programs. Oppose H.R. 3668 Improving Interagency Coordination for Pipeline Reviews Act and H.R. 3632 Power Plant Reliability Act, due to impacts on communities dealing with harmful pollution and climate change impacts.

Support reinstating clean electric tax credits, including S. 2681: Lowering Electric Bills Act.

Support funding for Department of Housing and Urban Affairs in FY 26 appropriations (H.R. 4552, S. 2465).

Support funding for EPA in FY 26 appropriations bills (H.R. 4754; S. 2431).