STATEMENT OF SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY ON THE RECESS APPOINTMENT OF RICHARD M. STICKLER

Washington, D.C. – Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy released the following statement on the recess appointment of Richard M. Stickler: “This action by President Bush is an affront to the men and women who risk their lives every day in our nation’s mines. After so many lost their lives this year, our miners and their families deserve better than a mine safety director with a track record of looking the other way. The Administration knows that Mr. Stickler could not pass the Senate because of his poor safety record, but they chose to put the interests of the industry ahead of the safety of the miners and installed him in the job anyway.” ###