July 1, 2017 - Pennsylvania Congressman Matt Cartwright said he was pleased after the House Committee on Natural Resources passed H.R. 1731, the RECLAIM Act this week.

The bill now heads to the House floor for consideration.

“It’s vital to address the often devastating environmental legacy of abandoned mines. I’m proud to be the lead Democrat on a bill that goes a long way towards addressing the needs of communities most affected by the collapse of the coal industry,” Cartwright said in a press release. Cartwright’s district includes all of Schuylkill and parts of Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe and Northampton counties.

The House Natural Resources Committee approved the Revitalizing the Economy of Coal Communities by Leveraging Local Activities and Investing More Act during a Tuesday morning meeting. It would provide funding to reclaim former coal mining land and spur economic development.

The RECLAIM Act would release $1 billion from the existing AML Fund to boost economic growth in regions that have relied on the coal industry. In Pennsylvania, nearly $300 million is expected to be distributed over the next five years. 

“This bipartisan, bicameral compromise bill directs the bulk of the funds to the most deserving projects to restore our land, put people back to work and reinvigorate our communities,” he said.