Perry County | Kentuckians For The Commonwealth

Chapter: Perry County

Do you want the absolute best for your family and our Perry County community? So do we.

If you believe, as we do, that working together is the best way to create a better Perry County, then we invite you to be part of our local KFTC chapter.

We are a diverse group of Perry Countians – teachers, retired coal miners, students, unemployed, moms, grandparents and many more. We work together – as we have for 30 years – to protect our water and land, bring new energy and new jobs to our area, share our vision with elected officials and make sure Perry County is a safe place to call home for everyone.

We support each other, have fun and get things done. Come join us at our next potluck chapter meeting!

Recent Activities

RECLAIM Act is approved by U.S. House committee

Appalachian Citizens Law Center on May 2, 2019 in Coal and Water, New Energy and Transition, Mountaintop Removal and Strip Mining, Big Sandy, , Cumberland, , Harlan County, , Perry County, , Western Kentucky, Congress, , RECLAIM Act

After reintroduction in April, the bipartisan RECLAIM Act was debated and voted on during the May 1 House

Kentuckians act to support miners with black lung disease

KFTC staff on November 29, 2018 in Coal and Water, Voting Rights, Just Transition, Big Sandy, , Cumberland, , Harlan County, , Perry County, Black Lung, , Congress, , RECLAIM Act

Kentuckians took action today in Washington, DC and London, Kentucky to urge Senator Mitch McConnell and other members of Congress to do right by coal miners with bl

Fixing What's Broke: why Congress must support a Just Transition for miners with black lung and communities

Lisa Abbott on October 21, 2018 in Coal and Water, Economic Justice, New Energy and Transition, Just Transition, , Community Science & Public Health, , Energy Democracy, , Mountaintop Removal and Strip Mining, , Sustainable Energy, Big Sandy, , Cumberland, , Harlan County, , Perry County, , Rowan County, , Western Kentucky, Black Lung, , Climate Justice, , Congress, , Empower Kentucky, , Federal tax policy, , I Love Mountains Day, , Knott County, , Mine Safety, , OSM - Office of Surface Mining, , Power Plants, , RECLAIM Act

A new report from KFTC describes ways Kentuckians are organizing to demand action from Congress – and especially from Senator Mitch McConnell – in support of a Just Transition for miners with black lung disease, retired and laid off miners, and their communities.

To build a new economy in coal communities, the report says Congress should start by "fixing what's broke," including strengthening funding for the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund, passing the RECLAIM Act, and protecting miners' pensions.

Local black lung resolution is picking up steam

Lisa Abbott on October 16, 2018 in Coal and Water, Economic Justice, New Energy and Transition, Just Transition, , Communities Taking Action, , Energy Democracy, , Sustainable Energy, Big Sandy, , Cumberland, , Harlan County, , Perry County, , Rowan County, Black Lung, , Climate Justice, , Congress, , Empower Kentucky, , Federal tax policy, , Knott County, , Mine Safety, , Power Plants, , RECLAIM Act

Most recent update as of Jan 2, 2019: Sixteen local governments in Kentucky have passed local resolutions in 2018 calling on Senator McConnell and other members of Congress to do right by our miners and communities by passing the RECLAIM Act, strengthening funding for the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund, and protecting miners' pensions. 

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The resolution was first adopted by the City of Benham in Harlan County in September 2018. That action was followed quickly by local governments in the cities of Jackson, Morehead and Whitesburg, and in Breathitt, Knott, Letcher, Rowan and Pike counties. 

Knott, Letcher, Rowan and Pike counties became the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th local governments in eastern Kentucky to pass a local resolution calling on members of Congress to pass several bills needed to help sick, disabled, retired and unemployed coal miners and their communities. The fiscal courts in Letcher and Knott counties took the unanimous action at their respective monthly meetings on October 15, and Pike and Rowan counties acted the next day.

Update 11.30.2018: The Floyd County Fiscal Court became the 10th Kentucky community to pass the resolution on October 18. Magoffin County quickly became the 11th, followed by Ohio County, in Western Kentucky, Knox County, and the City of Lynch in Harlan County. 

Update 12.10.2018: Johnson County's Fiscal Court passed the 15th resolution in Kentucky by local governments calling on Senator McConnell and other members of Congress to do right by our miners and coal communities!

Update in late December: Harlan County's Fiscal Court passed the 16th resolution urging Congress to pass the RECLAIM Act, strengthen the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund, and protect miners' pensions. 

Perry County members visit Rep. Rogers’ office about border issue

KFTC staff on July 8, 2018 in Economic Justice, Perry County

Members of the Perry County KFTC Chapter of gathered Tuesday in Hazard in front of U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers' office to protest the separation of families and stand in solidarity with immigrants being targeted by ICE and Customs and Border Protection.

The KFTC members met with Danielle Smoot of Rogers' staff to discuss the issue of separating families at the border. They asked for a meeting with Rogers when he is in Kentucky during a congressional recess.

There is a real fear that causes people from other countries to seek asylum in the U.S., Susan Hull of Perry County pointed out. "I lived in Nicaragua for three years. There are ‘the missing’ as they call them, the army comes in and then people are missing the next day. I know that it's true, but it's something that some of my friends here think is made up. There is a real fear."

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Chapter Feature:

Russell Oliver"KFTC empowers residents to bring about positive changes in their communities. It gives members confidence that they can make a difference. You are not one person, but part of a statewide organization of thousands supporting you and your cause."

-Russell Oliver, Perry County Chapter member

Regular Meetings:

Hazard, KY 41701
Monthly chapter meeting

Join us on the 3rd Monday of every other month at 6 p.m. for the Perry County chapter meeting. We rotate meeting locations so please check the KFTC calendar for most up to date meeting information.

Chapter meetings are a great time to plan local work, discuss local and statewide work, meet new people, and much more. Everyone is welcome and invited to attend! Hope to see you there!

Chapter Organizer:

Jacob Mack-Boll
Hazard, KY 41701
606-263-4982

Other Pages

Upcoming Events:

June 20

Black lung hearing

2175 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC

June 24

Perry annual chapter meeting

420 Main Street
Hazard, KY 41701

Join us for our annual Chapter Meeting. This is the time of year where we reflect on our work over the previous year, celebrate good work, and make plans for the coming year.