A supporter of research into clean coal technology, he also worked with West Virginia senator Jay Rockefeller to secure better retirement benefits for coal miners.
福特是洁净煤技术研究的支持者，他还与来自西弗吉尼亚州的联邦参议员杰伊·洛克斐勒合作，为煤矿工人争取更好的退休福利。