As the new Congress begins, we at Appalachian Voices are taking stock of the many victories achieved in the 117th Congress that just came to a close.
Blog Archives
For Appalachian communities, the 117th Congress brought significant victories, but work remains
TAGS: 117th Congress abandoned mine lands Acid Mine Drainage AMLER bipartisan infrastructure law black lung association Inflation Reduction Act mountain valley pipeline omnibus spending bill President Joe Biden RECOMPETE program Sen. Joe Manchin STREAM Act Tennessee Valley Authority White House Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization
Fighting for Black Lung Benefits for Miners and Families
Kathryn South’s husband, Mike South, was diagnosed with black lung disease at age 35. As they grappled with his disease, the couple also navigated the arduous legal process to obtain federal black lung benefits, a fight that Kathryn continued even after Mike’s passing.
Confronting Rising Black Lung
Amid an ongoing surge in severe black lung disease among coal miners, federal lawmakers have introduced a number of bills aimed at assisting affected miners and their families. The Inflation Reduction Act shored up funding for benefits, and advocates are pushing for additional measures.
Advocates applaud introduction of Rep. Scott & Adams’ 10-year extension of excise tax for Black Lung Disability Trust Fund
Today, Rep. Bobby Scott (VA-03) and Rep. Alma Adams (NC-12) introduced the Black Lung Benefits Disability Trust Fund Solvency Act of 2022 to extend the Coal Excise Tax for 10 years, with original cosponsors Rep. John Yarmuth (KY-3) and Rep. Matt Cartwright (PA-12).
TAGS: Appalachian Citizens Law Center black lung association Black Lung Disability Trust Fund black lung excise tax Congress
Black Lung Advocate Judith Riffe is Making Change (and Quilts) in West Virginia
Judith Riffe of the Wyoming County Black Lung Association uses her quilt-making talents to fundraise for the chapter and is spearheading the installation of a statue to bring attention to the role of women miners.
Black Lung Association asks Sen. Capito to support 10-year extension of black lung excise tax
Members of the Black Lung Association are asking U.S. Sen. Shelly Moore Capito to support a 10-year extension of the Black Lung Excise Tax to shore up funding for black lung benefits.
POSTPONED: Miners with black lung launch two weeks of demonstrations urging Sen. Capito to back 10-year extension of Black Lung Excise Tax
Contact Trey Pollard, 202-904-9187, trey@pollardcommunications.com Due to inclement weather and the increased risk it poses to people with black lung, these demonstrations have been postponed. This press release was updated at 11 a.m. on Dec. 6. CHARLESTON, WV — Today,…
TAGS: Appalachian Citizens Law Center Black Lung black lung association Black Lung Disability Trust Fund black lung excise tax Senator Joe Manchin Senator Shelley Moore Capito West Virginia
Miners with black lung call on Congress to protect benefits
In an August webinar, advocates and representatives of the Black Lung Association discussed the critical importance for the passage of a permanent 25% increase to the Black Lung Excise Tax on coal companies.
TAGS: Black Lung black lung association Black Lung Disability Trust Fund black lung excise tax Coal coal miners
Tighter silica rules needed to protect miners from black lung disease
Coal miners are legally allowed to be exposed to twice as much dangerous silica dust as any other worker. That needs to change.
TAGS: black lung association Black Lung Disability Trust Fund black lung disease coal dust Mine Safety and Health Administration MSHA silica dust
Congress includes one-year extension of black lung excise tax in omnibus spending bill
A one-year extension of the excise tax that funds the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund is included in the 2021 omnibus spending bill. This is the second year in a row that a one-year extension has been included in the…
TAGS: 116th Congress Biden administration black lung association Black Lung Disability Trust Fund black lung disease coal miners
