After a lively debate that included allusions to sledgehammers and murder, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 214-212 on Tuesday to pass a resolution overturning the Biden administration's ban on new coal leasing in Wyoming's Powder River Basin, with Wyoming Republican Rep. Harriett Hageman leading the charge.
Hageman, the lead sponsor of House Joint Resolution 130, rose on the House floor to defend the measure that would cancel the Buffalo Field Office's Resource Management Plan amendment finalized in the final days of the Biden administration.
"Wyoming is the largest coal producer in the nation. We, in other words, are responsible for ensuring that you can turn on your lights and heat your home," Hageman said from the floor.
The Wyoming representative argued forcefully that the Biden administration's decision violated federal law and would devastate Wyoming's economy.
"The Biden administration's decision to terminate mining in Wyoming's PRB is not only irresponsible and harmful, but downright illegal, a mechanism used by the governing elite to inflict harm on every single citizen of this great country to further climate change lunacy," Hageman said.
She warned of severe consequences if the plan remained in place, stating, "We cannot survive in this country without Wyoming coal," and, "If you turn out the lights on one of Wyoming's most important industries, you will also be turning out the lights on America."
Natural Resources Committee Chairman Bruce Westerman, R-Arkansas, supported the resolution with colorful language criticizing the Biden administration's approach.
"If this resource management plan amendment by the previous administration was balanced, I'd hate to see a heavy-handed resource management plan amendment by the previous administration," Westerman said. "Because this took a sledgehammer to an established industry in the state of Wyoming."
Westerman added, “U.S. coal is being murdered.”
Coal mining in the Powder River Basin. (Photo by Eric Warren) 
Former coal miner Lynne Huskinson. (Powder River Basin Resource Council) 
Coal mining in the Powder River Basin. (Photo by Eric Warren) 
Coal mining in the Powder River Basin. (Photo by Eric Warren)
Accepting Reality
Democrats strongly opposed the measure, with Rep. Jared Huffman, D-California, characterizing it as a giveaway to wealthy interests at the expense of working families.
"After their seven-week paid vacation, I can't imagine anything more disconnected for House Republicans to come back here and make their first priority not helping working families to make ends meet but jamming through more favors for their billionaire buddies," Huffman said.
Huffman placed the debate in the context of global climate action, noting the COP30 climate conference going on now in Brazil.
"As the rest of the world convenes to accept the reality of the climate crisis, and to accept the related reality of coal being the biggest contributor to carbon pollution," the Republican majority was moving in the opposite direction, said Huffman.
“The entire world is talking about how to phase down our dependence on coal pollution and fossil fuel pollution,” continued Huffman. “We are here in this alternate reality of the Republican majority where my colleague from Wyoming calls it climate lunacy.
"It's a sad, sad testament to, frankly, the disgraceful leadership of this Republican majority."
Narrow Passage
The resolution's narrow passage marks a victory for coal interests in Wyoming's Powder River Basin, which produces 40% of the nation's thermal coal. The U.S. Senate is expected to vote on the resolution this week.
Response from Wyoming’s coal industry was upbeat, with Travis Deti, executive director of the Wyoming Mining Association, telling Cowboy State Daily, “This is a great day not only for Wyoming and the hard-working men and women of our coal industry, but for our country.”
Deti added, “America needs Wyoming coal, and the repeal of the ill-conceived Buffalo RMP will help to ensure it is available to power our energy needs well into the future. We extend our deepest thanks to Rep. Hageman for her work on getting this done.”
The American Coal Council was equally enthusiastic, with CEO Emily Arthun calling Hageman’s resolution a win for not only coal, but “natural resource use for all industries.”
“I see the industrious professions that are proud of their job and the contributions it gives not only their community, but powering lives for the well-being of America,” Arthun told Cowboy State Daily.
Local Pushback
Not everyone with a background in coal celebrated Hageman’s resolution Tuesday.
Lynne Huskinson, who started mining coal around Gillette when she was 19 and spent nearly 40 years in the mines, told Cowboy State Daily she’s worried Hageman and the rest of Wyoming’s D.C. delegation are not painting a realistic picture for their constituents.
“Don't give people false hope because that's not going to keep Eagle Butte open or Belle Ayr open when coal eventually slips off the energy market,” said Huskinson, now retired and the board chair of the Powder River Basin Resource Council.
In a prepared statement, Huskinson noted that resource management plans are the culmination of local input about how public lands should be managed.
The plans, she said, “represent the people of Wyoming, not just the coal industry. Local voices are being silenced, and the long arm of D.C. politics is running Wyoming.”
David Madison can be reached at david@cowboystatedaily.com.
