(Washington D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) applauded the U.S. Department of Labor’s announcement of $500,000 in Brookwood-Sago grants for miner safety training and education programs. The grant program was established as part of the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act of 2006. The MINER act is the most comprehensive set of mine safety reforms to be enacted in a generation. Senator Murray was a key author of the MINER act and worked to include the grant program announced today, which is named in honor of the victims of the mining tragedies at Sago, WV and Brookwood, AL.
"I’m pleased that the Mine Safety and Health Administration has made these training funds available to better ensure the safety of miners in this country," said Senator Murray "I will never forget speaking to the widows of the miners lost at Sago. I pledged to them that their loved ones would not be forgotten and that the federal government would take action to prevent future tragedies. I will continue to fight for increased training, rigorous enforcement of safety regulations, and funding for technological advancements in order to keep miners safe."
The focus of these grants will be on training and training materials for mine rescue and mine emergency preparedness in underground coal mines. Those seeking to apply for Brookwood-Sago grants should visit: http://www.grants.gov