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.
Blog Archives
Gaming the system — Part III
TAGS: Alpha Natural Resources Black Lung Black Lung Benefits Act Black Lung Disability Trust Fund black lung excise tax Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act U.S. Department of Labor
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.
TAGS: Alpha Natural Resources Black Lung Black Lung Benefits Act Black Lung Disability Trust Fund black lung excise tax Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act U.S. Department of Labor
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.
TAGS: Alpha Natural Resources Black Lung Black Lung Benefits Act Black Lung Disability Trust Fund black lung excise tax Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act U.S. Department of Labor
Permanent extension of black lung excise tax gives miners peace of mind
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.
TAGS: Black Lung Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act Black Lung Disability Trust Fund black lung excise tax Inflation Reduction Act National Black Lung Association Relief for Survivors of Miners Act silica dust
House passes Inflation Reduction Act, which will mean historic climate and energy investments, a huge victory for miners with black lung and more
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…
TAGS: Black Lung Disability Trust Fund Build Back Better Act Climate change Congress Environmental Justice Inflation Reduction Act Sen. Joe Manchin
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.
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).
TAGS: Appalachian Citizens Law Center black lung association Black Lung Disability Trust Fund black lung excise tax Congress
Black Lung Association and 68 organizations demand urgent action from Congress to extend Black Lung Excise Tax
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…
New report explains why West Virginia needs the Black Lung Excise Tax
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.
POSTPONED: Miners with black lung launch two weeks of demonstrations urging Sen. Capito to back 10-year extension of Black Lung Excise Tax
Contact Trey Pollard, 202-904-9187, trey@pollardcommunications.com Due to inclement weather and the increased risk it poses to people with black lung, these demonstrations have been postponed. This press release was updated at 11 a.m. on Dec. 6. CHARLESTON, WV — Today,…
TAGS: Appalachian Citizens Law Center Black Lung black lung association Black Lung Disability Trust Fund black lung excise tax Senator Joe Manchin Senator Shelley Moore Capito West Virginia
