Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine introduced the RECLAIM Act. This legislation accelerates $1 billion in funding from the Abandoned Mine Reclamation (AML) Fund over the next five years to revitalize coal communities hit hardest by the downturn of the coal industry. It promotes economic revitalization, diversification, and development in economically distressed communities through the reclamation and restoration of land and water resources adversely affected by coal mining.

“We have a lot of work to do to ensure that communities that have historically relied on coal are not being left behind by rapid technological and economic shifts,” said Senator Warner. “The RECLAIM Act will speed up the release of a billion dollars already set aside to help Appalachian communities respond to environmental damage from coal mining, and fast-track investments in projects to restore the environment, create new jobs, and diversify the economy so that more people have greater access to economic opportunities.”

"Mine reclamation supports Virginia jobs, cleans up polluted sites, and restores them for productive use," Kaine said. "This bill simply takes existing money and puts it to work on these projects. I'm proud to join Senator Warner and our Appalachian state colleagues on this common sense bill."