Those with the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce say it's time for U.S. Senator Robert Byrd and U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller and the other members of West Virginia's Congressional delegate to throw around some weight on Capitol Hill.

"This is about 25% of West Virginia's economy.  It's about thousands of jobs for West Virginia mining families," Chamber President Steve Roberts said on Friday's MetroNews Talkline.

"This is a situation that is going to have an impact on everybody in West Virginia, young and old, students, working people."

That's why Roberts says, when it comes time for a vote on the health care reform bill in the U.S. Senate, Senators Byrd and Rockefeller should withhold their votes until the Obama Administration and Congress "ceases its war on coal/energy."

"We need our members of Congress, who all have significant seniority and clout, to really stand up to President Obama and to the EPA," Roberts says.  He says they need to stand up on issues including climate change, mountaintop removal mining and energy policy.

Roberts claims there's been a "growing campaign against mining and use of coal" since the start of the Obama Administration and the new Congress.

He says his request of those representing the state in Washington is reasonable.

"This is an issue that is so important to so many people in West Virginia," Roberts says.  "It's about good politics.  It's about good policy.  It's about using the clout and strength that our delegation has."