On Wednesday, senators on a Health, Education, Labor and Pensions subcommittee led by Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colorado, held a hearing and listened to testimony from miner advocates and experts on mine safety and the black lung benefits program.
Blog Archives
Congressional hearing highlights issues with black lung benefits program
TAGS: Black Lung Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act Cecil Roberts Dr. Drew Harris Sen. John Hickenlooper
Biden Admin Finalizes Silica Rule Update
A new federal rule would cut miners’ exposure to silica dust, but miners and their advocates have concerns about whether industry will follow the new rule under the current enforcement mechanisms.
Rule to protect miners from silica falls short
In April, the Mine Safety and Health Administration announced the final version of a rule meant to protect coal miners from respirable silica. The announcement was a long time coming.
TAGS: Black Lung Mine Safety and Health Administration National Black Lung Association national institute for occupational safety and health silica dust silica rule
Appalachian Voices sees a missed opportunity with new rule to protect miners from black lung disease
Yesterday the Biden administration’s Mine Safety and Health Administration announced that it finalized a rule to protect miners from respirable silica — a significant driver of the resurgence of black lung disease in Central Appalachia.
TAGS: Black Lung Mine Safety and Health Administration National Black Lung Association silica dust silica rule
SWVA 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.
TAGS: Appalachian Citizens Law Center Black Lung Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act National Black Lung Association Rep. Morgan Griffith
NEW 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.
Four ways you can support Appalachian communities in the new year!
In 2023, Appalachian advocates made several advancements in the fight for greater protections for rural communities and families affected by black lung but as we enter 2024, an ongoing battle in Congress over spending is threatening to undo much of this progress while also cutting programs that benefit these communities.
TAGS: appropriations Black Lung Black Lung Benefits Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act coal impacts Congress funding OSMRE Relief for Survivors of Miners Act U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement
5,200+ comments from across the country support strengthening silica dust rule as comment period concludes
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 12, 2023 CONTACT Trey Pollard, trey@pollardcommunications.com, 202-904-9187 COAL COUNTRY – Last night at midnight EST, the 45-day comment period on the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s draft rule to protect coal miners from exposure to respirable…
What the government spending fight means for Appalachia
Leaders in the Senate and the House need to come together to negotiate a final deal in order to keep the government funded. Appalachian Voices will keep fighting to fund these crucial programs and agencies to help protect coal mining communities and transition to clean energy.
TAGS: Americorps appropriations Black Lung Congress Distressed Area Recompete Program Economic Development Administration Fiscal Responsibility Act government shutdown Letcher County Prison Low Income Household Water Assistance Program Mine Safety and Health Administration mountain valley pipeline rural energy for america program U.S. Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement USDA Rural Partners Network White House Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities and Economic Revitalization
Miners, advocates voice their concerns about MSHA’s proposed silica rule
Coal miners and black lung advocates filled several back rows of the auditorium at the Mine Safety and Health Administration Academy just outside of Beckley, West Virginia, on the morning of Aug. 10th to provide comments on the agency’s draft rule to protect miners from respirable silica dust.
TAGS: Black Lung Mine Safety and Health Administration National Black Lung Association silica dust silica rule
