(S. 717). The vote is on the Schmitt amendment to provide for automatic expiration of each new mine health and safety standard after five years, unless it is renewed by the Secretary of Labor. In other words, one bad Secretary of Labor could gut the bill. Environmentalists support strong health and safety provisions to protect the working environment of the miner. We cannot in good conscience continue to promote deep mining over strip mining unless we improve conditions in the deep mines. Every year about 150 people die in coal mines, while another 25,000 are injured. Environmentalists opposed the Schmitt amendment. Rejected 31-52; June 20, 1977. No is the correct vote.