On April 5, U.S. Representative Hal Rogers testified before the House Natural Resources Committee in supper of the RECLAIM Act of 2017. Rogers sponsored the legislation that aims to accelerate $1 billion in available funding in the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund over the next five years to revitalize coal communities hit hardest by the downturn of the coal industry. He said he was pleased the bill has bipartisan support and that he sponsored the RECLAIM Act to help revitalize coal communities all across the nation devastated by the downturn of the coal industry. There is currently $2.4 billion in the unappropriated balance of the Abandoned Mine Lands Fund. $200 million will be distributed to states over five years, with $195 million distributed to uncertified states, with the remaining $5 million distributed as grants.