Miners Pressure Congress for Pension Fix

In May, dozens of retired coal miners came to Washington and called on Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and other Washington lawmakers to pass legislation that would preserve pensions for 87,000 retirees and 20,000 working miners, AP News reports. Union leaders stated that coal bankruptcies and the 2008 recession have drained $6 billion from the fund.

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and other lawmakers joined a press conference with the miners. Manchin introduced a bill in January that would shore up funding for miners’ pensions. It awaits decision in committee.