Appalachian Voices Celebrates Historic “Week in Washington”

Record participation moves legislation closer to passage

Last week, the Alliance for Appalachia (including App Voices) put on our largest lobby week ever to end mountaintop removal. More than 200 participants from 27 states came to tell Congress to end mountaintop removal and pass the Clean Water Protection Act (HR 1310) and the Appalachia Restoration Act (S 696). Citizens directly impacted by mountaintop removal were joined by concerned Americans from as far away as Oregon, Maine, California, Minnesota, Michigan, and Colorado in an incredibly powerful act of solidarity. You can read more about their adventures in Marsha Johnston’s blog post, who was a participant at the event.

Participants set up and executed over 150 meetings with Congressional offices, sharing their stories and concerns about the horrific practice of mountaintop removal. We also dropped in on over 200 additional offices with whom meetings were not scheduled, and worked hard to get face-to-face time with key Congressional targets.

Thus far, the Clean Water Protection Act (HR 1310) has picked up 166 bipartisan cosponsors, including two additional signers this week; Congressman Mike Quigley (D-IL-05) and Bill Foster (D-IL-14). The Appalachia Restoration Act (S 696) has 10 bipartisan cosponsors, with many more in the works.

Thanks to the planning team, the participants from around the country, and the people of Appalachia who spent many long hours and sleepless nights to make this the biggest and best lobby week we have ever had.

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About JW Randolph

Raised on the banks of the Tennessee River, JW's work to create progress in his home state and throughout Appalachia has been featured on the Rachel Maddow Show, The Daily Kos and Grist. He served first as Appalachian Voices’ Legislative Associate and then Tennessee director until leaving to pursue a career in medicine in 2012.