see how the industry felt about the level of regulation here, so we went to talk to the west virginia coal association - they represent 90% of the state's mining industry. bill raney is the president >> do you think the dep in west virginia does a good enough job of what it is supposed to do? >> i do and you know we struggle with them and we argue with them, but you work with them and they know what's best for west virginia. it doesn't need to be dictated from philadelphia or washington because the guys in west virginia know what's best. >> why do companies have a hard time not violating their permits? it seems like permit violations are part of the game? >> i don't know if they are part of the game. there are so many moving parts on a mining operation and so many standards to meet. you're going to have some interruptions. if they are serious they need to be fixed. the vast majority of the people and the people i'm proud to represent they are wanting to do the right thing because they live here. they are not going to do anything to mess up the future of the state. dj estep is trying to help his commun

coal would cause families in west virginia to see huge increases in their home energy prices. the escalation would also have a terrible impact on jobs in our state. the american mining association has projected that the new stream buffer zone regulation would destroy as many as 85,000 jobs in the app latchan region. the -- appalachian region. the administration has also held up permitting for natural gas exports and proposed damaging regulation ons the exploration of new natural -- regulation on exploration of new natural gas. the keystone veto further confirms the president's commitment to continuing his obstructionist agenda. with so much at stake for west virginia families, we must strengthen our resolve like never before to fight for an energy policy which allows the free market and consumers to choose, not government to discriminate. i yield back my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman yields back. the chair recognizes the lady from illinois, ms. kelly, for five minutes. ms. kelly: thank you, mr. speaker. as we recognize the achievements of many african-americans this black history month, i want to acknowledge the divine nine from a current black sororities and fra