mr. blankenship. and we will turn to mr. roberts. again, please proceed. if you can summon up in five minutes or so, we would appreciate it -- if you could sum it up. >> thank you. i want to commend the work of this committee has done in the past and the support that you have provided in protecting the nation's coal miners, and we owe you a great deal of gratitude. even to robert c. byrd, a want to say thank you for over 40 years of standing up for coal miners -- i want to say thank you. i want to give particular tribute to the celebration over the safety act. for those who believe that these do not work, in the 40 years before the passage of the 1969: health and safety act, 32,000 plus " miners died in the nation's mines. 32,000 plus. since the passage of the act 40 years ago, 3200 plus miners have died. congress acted begin in 2006. we stand here today to think congress for standing up for the coal miners of this nation to protect them when they go to work. there is not a coal miner in this country that does not have a right to go out that door with thei