In a statement issued late Thursday afternoon, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly said he is "disappointed" in the decision to shut down the Erie Coke plant and thanked the City of Erie and Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry for offering help to the affected workers.

“137 working families, now former Erie Coke employees, received devastating news this morning a week before Christmas. I am disappointed that Erie Coke and state and local regulators could not agree to a solution to protect the local environment while preserving these jobs. This is a heartbreaking situation. Thank you to the city of Erie and the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry for offering support to the affected workers.”