Appalachia is hurting because of increased job losses in the coal industry. New technologies, such as mountaintop removal, requires fewer employees and therefore is cheaper for coal companies to run.
As a consequence, poverty and low wages dominate the economic landscape in Appalachia more than ever.
We the People request that President Obama provide some insight on how to address the issue of poverty and low wages as a result of lost jobs in the coal industry.
We also request that the practice of mountaintop removal coal mining be stopped in order to both facilitate the availability of more coal mining jobs as well as to protect the environment and landscape of Appalachia.