WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and U.S. Rep. Greg Casar (D-TX) today unveiled the American Energy Worker Opportunity Act. The bill would provide comprehensive support for coal and oil refinery workers as we shift to a clean energy economy. The bill would provide wage replacement or supplementation; pension and health benefits; and make available education and training grants to workers whose employment is terminated from a coal mine, coal-fired power plant, coal transport, or oil refinery. Additionally, the bill would direct educational grants to the children of dislocated workers.  

In response to the unveiling, the BlueGreen Alliance released the following statement from Executive Director Jason Walsh: 

“As our nation’s energy sector rapidly evolves, Congress has a moral obligation to provide a robust package of support for workers who have borne and will continue to bear the brunt of job loss in this energy transition. As we work to build a cleaner economy a vital goal must be to ensure that the workers that have kept the nation’s lights on for generations have every opportunity to succeed. We thank Sen. Brown and Rep. Casar for their leadership and look forward to working with them on this bill.”