WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts today announced a $76,700 grant to Hutchinson Community College for mine safety and health training and education.

Hutchinson Community College will use the funds to provide federally mandated training to Kansas miners. The grant covers training and retraining of miners working at coal, metal and nonmetal mines. Kansas has hundreds of mines, with almost one in every county.

"Given the recent tragedy in West Virginia, this training is critical," Senator Roberts said. "Safety should be the number one priority for our miners, and I am pleased our state has received these funds to ensure worker safety and health in our Kansas mines."

The state applied for the grant, and it will be administered by Hutchinson Community College.

The funds were awarded by the United States Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).

Senator Roberts is a senior member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.