Coal is a key ingredient to the United States’ economic momentum and preservation of national security. It is a resource of international importance, holding the potential to greatly improve the balance of trade. It is in the best interest of the United States for coal to be recognized as an important energy resource for the 1990s and the 21st century for two reasons: increased reliance on coal could lead to a decrease in the nations’ reliance on oil imports to supply a substantial percentage of the nation’s energy mix; and using more coal and less imported oil would benefit the national trade deficit, because foreign oil imports are attributable to a full third of the national trade deficit.