Black lung benefits: Federal measure merits approval
The Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act of 2015, an important measure aimed at ensuring coal miners receive the benefits they’ve earned and deserve, merits prompt approval and passage by lawmakers in both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives.
The measure was introduced in the U.S. Senate last week by U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa. and U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio. Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va., U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Pa., and U.S. Rep. Frederica Wilson, D-Fla.
The measure proposes sweeping reforms to the federal program charged with providing benefits to coal miners suffering from black lung disease. Federal law requires that coal companies compensate miners who contract black lung, which is caused by inhaling coal dust over an extended period of time, but coal companies routinely deploy an array of unfair tactics to avoid paying miners the benefits they deserve, according to the eight lawmakers.
To help level the playing field for miners battling this potentially fatal disease, the Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act of 2015 would ensure that the federal government and coal operators honor their obligation of lifetime pensions and health benefits to retired miners and their families who continue to face uncertainty.
“Over the years, our coal miners have suffered from the devastating effects of black lung disease and have not received the attention or care they have earned and that’s unacceptable,” Manchin said. “The very least we can do is make sure that all miners have access to quality medical care and legal counseling while ensuring that unfair practices do not delay or deny a miner their benefits. I have and I will continue to fight for our brave miners to make sure they receive the necessary assistance and care they deserve.”
“I’ve always been proud to stand up for coal workers and their families,” Warner added. “Coal miners put themselves on the line underground to power our economy. For the miners who are suffering from black lung as a result, we need to uphold our end of the bargain. These are commonsense steps we can take to make it a little easier for miners and their families to access appropriate medical care and compensation.”
“Black lung is a debilitating disease that impacts thousands of miners in Virginia and across the nation,” Kaine said. “I’m proud to re-introduce this bill to strengthen the benefits system for miners and increase their access to medical evidence so they can receive a fair shake in the legal process.”
We welcome the Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act of 2015 and urge its quick passage.
Coal miners who have labored for years deep underground in the mountains of southern West Virginia and Southwest Virginia deserve all of the help they can get from Washington. These are the same unsung heroes who produced the steel that helped build our nation’s skyscrapers. It was coal, and those brave miners who labored to extract this vital fossil fuel, that helped win World War II while also ensuring that the lights would remain on in America over the many decades that have since passed. Their health and safety should remain a top priority of lawmakers in Washington.