Fighting for Black Lung Funding & the Future of Coal

This week on Inside West Virginia Politics we go to Washington D.C. and follow coal miners who are fighting for black lung disease funding. We also go to an abandoned coal mine to talk about rare earth elements and the impact they could have on the Mountain State.

Dr. Paul Ziemkiewicz, director for the West Virginia Water Research Institute talks about what Rare Earth Elements are and the impact they could have on the Mountain State.

In the next segment, Dr. Paul Ziemkiewicz discusses the environmental impact of Rare Earth Elements and the ongoing trade war with China.

West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin talks about the obstacles he is facing on Capitol Hill to get black lung funding for Coal Miners.

Cecil Roberts, President of the United Mine Workers of America discusses the impact of Miners going to Washington, D.C. and the importance of securing funding for these miners.