Senate confirms the nominations of two candidates for mine review commission

Washington — The Senate on Sept. 29 confirmed the nominations of Mary Lu Jordan and Timothy Baker to serve as members of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission.

The addition of Jordan and Baker restores a quorum to the body that handles appeals of citations and penalties assessed against mine operators by the Mine Safety and Health Administration. The five-seat commission now has four members. The newest members’ terms are set to expire Aug. 30, 2026.

In June, President Joe Biden nominated Moshe Marvit to serve on the commission, but at press time, Marvit’s nomination had not yet been considered by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

Cecil Roberts, president of United Mine Workers of America, welcomed the Jordan and Baker development while hoping for further movement on Marvit’s nomination.

“I congratulate Mary Lu Jordan and T.J. Baker on their confirmations to serve on this critically important commission, and I thank Senate leadership for moving their nominations forward,” Roberts said in a press release. “However, the work to protect miners’ health and safety is not finished.

“There still is not a full complement of commissioners serving on this board, and deadlocks between Democratic and Republican appointees on cases critical to miners’ safety are likely to become all too common. I urge the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee to act as soon as possible to move the nomination of Moshe Marvit to the full Senate and for his confirmation by that body, before the end of the year. We must make this a fully functional commission, and soon.”