Posts Tagged ‘Appalachian Citizens Law Center’
Provision to block silica standard included in new appropriations bill
The House Appropriations Committee has included a provision in the annual appropriations bill for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education that would block funding for the recently finalized rule to protect miners from silica dust — a significant driver of the resurgence of black lung disease in Central Appalachia.
Read MoreMiners and advocates travel to Washington to ask legislators to strengthen black lung benefits
Recognizing the difficulty countless households have with these decisions, members of the West Virginia, Virginia, and Kentucky Black Lung Associations traveled in early May to Washington, D.C., to meet with legislators about the need to increase miners’ benefits, which have failed to keep pace with inflation.
Read MoreAppalachian groups and impacted communities unveil flood resilience policy priorities
ReImagine Appalachia, Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center and the National Wildlife Federation were joined by local elected officials and advocates today to detail a four-pillar flood resilience policy roadmap for Appalachia. Nearly forty groups have endorsed the platform.
Read MoreCommunity groups praise Beyer bill to ensure timely coal mine cleanup
Communities across Central Appalachia welcome a bill introduced today by U.S. Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va.. The bill includes specific requirements for how quickly coal mine reclamation must be completed following coal removal.
Read MoreCommunity advocates welcome Cartwright’s new legislation to fight zombie mine crisis
Community advocates from across Pennsylvania and Appalachia celebrated the introduction of two bills by Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-Penn., that would take crucial action to address some of the root causes of the “zombie mine” crisis — the increasing number of non-producing modern-era mines that have not been cleaned up by the coal companies responsible for operating them.
Read MoreSWVA advocates urge Congress to fight for investments to tackle growing black lung crisis
With coal miners in Southwestern Virginia facing an epidemic as black lung disease hits unprecedented levels and 1 in 5 veteran coal miners in Central Appalachia now suffer from the disease, advocates today called on Rep. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., and Sens. Warner and Kaine, D-Va. to prioritize investments in taking care of miners in the 2025 federal budget.
Read MoreCoal community advocates bash cuts to federal mine reclamation funding and urge restoration in FY25 budget
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 7, 2024 CONTACT Trey Pollard – trey@pollardcommunications.com – 202-904-9187 READ LETTER HERE COAL COUNTRY – As Congress advances a government funding bill that slashes millions in funding for the agency charged with supporting critical mine reclamation projects and enforcing mine reclamation standards, seventeen local, regional and national organizations released a letter…
Read MoreAdvocates release policy platform to give Congress a plan to stop zombie mines
Today, advocates from across coal-mining communities released a new federal policy platform that serves as a road map to address and prevent unreclaimed “zombie mines” — idled modern-era mines that have not been cleaned up by the responsible coal companies.
Read MorePRESS ADVISORY: Advocates to release policy platform to stop zombie mines
On Feb. 15, advocates from across coal-mining communities will unveil a new federal policy platform that serves as a road map to address and prevent unreclaimed “zombie mines” — idled modern-era mines that have not been cleaned up by the responsible coal companies. Endorsed by 48 community and national organizations, the policy platform will offer an array of new recommended solutions to thwart the continued zombie mine crisis.
Read MoreNEW analysis: Black lung benefits fall dramatically behind cost of living for sick miners and their families
A new analysis from Appalachian Voices and Appalachian Citizens Law Center finds that the cost of living is significantly higher than black lung benefits payments received by many miners with black lung and their families, illustrating the urgent need for congressional action to update how benefits are calculated and deployed.
Read More