THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Press Secretary

PRESIDENT CLINTON NAMES THEODORE F. VERHEGGEN TO THE FEDERAL MINE

SAFETY AND HEALTH REVIEW COMMISSION

The President announced today his intent to nominate Theodore F. Verheggen to the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission.

Theodore F. Verheggen, of the District of Columbia, is currently Chief Labor Counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources. His responsibilities include supervising staff attorneys, drafting legislation and participating in all aspects of the legislative process, from policy analysis to hearings and floor debate. Previously, he was Senator Nancy Landon Kassebaum's legislative counsel, serving as legal counsel for labor, commerce and judiciary issues. Mr. Verheggen has also been an associate attorney with the law firm of Rogers & Wells. He is a member of the New York and District of Columbia bars. He received both his B.A., with high honors, and his J.D. from the University of Virginia.

The Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission was established by the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977. The Act governs compliance with occupational health and safety standards in the nation's surface and underground mines, including coal, metal and nonmetal. The Commission was created as a separate adjudicatory body independent from the Department of Labor which enforces the Act. The Commission decides cases brought by the Mine Safety and Health Administration, mine operators, workers and their representatives. Cases generally involve review of the Mine Safety and Health Administration's enforcement actions, including inspection citations, mine closure orders, and proposals for civil penalties issued for violations of the Act. The Commission also has jurisdiction over discrimination complaints filed by miners and their representatives.

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