Lee County passes resolution supporting black lung benefit increases

Lee is the latest of more than two dozen local governments across multiple states to support miners with black lung 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 16, 2025

CONTACT
Dan Radmacher, Media Specialist, (276) 289-1018, dan@appvoices.org 

Jonesville, Va. — Last night, Lee County supervisors passed a resolution urging U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith and U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner to support legislation increasing black lung benefits. Kaine and Warner have supported similar legislation, led by former Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey, in past legislative sessions.

This comes on the heels of the Wise and Dickenson County boards passing similar resolutions in June, at the urging of Appalachian Voices and the National Black Lung Association, as well as local Black Lung Association chapters. The Russell County Board of Supervisors will be asked to pass a similar resolution at its upcoming meeting on Aug. 4th at 6:00 p.m. in Lebanon, VA. 

Appalachian Voices Community Outreach Coordinator Annie Jane Cotten has spoken before the Wise, Lee and Dickenson county supervisors, informing them of the importance of supporting the area’s workers and discussing how federal benefits paid to miners disabled by black lung have failed to keep pace with inflation.

“Our local and national Black Lung Associations have been working hard to communicate with our elected officials on the state and federal level to receive these necessary adjustments to the black lung benefits program,” Cotten said. “We need your help, as county officials, to urge our congressional leaders to take action.”