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Miners 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.

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Gaming the system — Part III

In 2021, the Government Accountability Office found big problems with the Labor Department’s current rules because they do not require sufficient collateral to cover both current and future black lung liabilities.

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Gaming the system — Part II

Congress stated clearly that coal operators, instead of taxpayers, would shoulder the cost of black lung when it set up the Black Lung Trust Fund. The trust fund was intended to be a backstop for miners rather than a means for coal operators to underinsure their liabilities.

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Gaming the system — Part I

At its core, this is the age-old story of corporate greed whereby rapacious mine operators, who have subjected generations of miners to disabling and fatal black lung disease, managed to transfer their responsibility to pay black lung benefits to suffering coal miners from their corporate coffers to the taxpayer’s pockets.

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Permanent extension of black lung excise tax gives miners peace of mind

At this May 12, 2022, press conference, leaders from the Black Lung Association launched a statewide campaign for a long-term extension of the black lung excise tax.

Miners with black lung and their advocates scored a huge victory in the recently signed Inflation Reduction Act, which permanently extended the black lung excise tax that supports the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund.

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House passes Inflation Reduction Act, which will mean historic climate and energy investments, a huge victory for miners with black lung and more

The near final vote on the Inflation Reduction Act. (One more Republican would vote no before the final tally)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 12, 2022 CONTACT Dan Radmacher, (540) 798-6683, dan@appvoices.org WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Inflation Reduction Act, sending the bill containing many of President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda priorities to

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Appalachian Voices celebrates U.S. House committee’s bill to improve black lung benefits

The bill, which was reported from the committee on a party-line vote, proposes changes to the Black Lung Benefits Program that will make it easier for coal miners and their dependents to access the benefits of the program, which include a living stipend and healthcare benefits.

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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).

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Black Lung Association and 68 organizations demand urgent action from Congress to extend Black Lung Excise Tax

five miners wearing shirts that say Black Lung Kills gather around a notepad

CONTACT: Dan Radmacher, dan@appvoices.org, (540) 798-6683 Trey Pollard, trey@pollardcommunications.com, (202) 904-9187 Read the letter here APPALACHIA — The National Black Lung Association and 68 other organizations sent a letter to congressional leadership Thursday urging immediate action to provide a long-term

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New report explains why West Virginia needs the Black Lung Excise Tax

xrays of black lung sufferers, Photo by CDC-NIOSH

This morning, advocates for miners with black lung and their families released a new report outlining the critically important impacts of the black lung excise tax and the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund in West Virginia. The report comes days after the excise tax rate was slashed due to Congressional inaction, gutting funding for the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund that supports benefits for thousands of miners in West Virginia.

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