Posts Tagged ‘Black Lung Disability Trust Fund’
Proposed Arch-Consol merger must secure black lung benefits for miners
Regulators scrutinizing a proposed merger between two of the country’s largest coal companies must make sure black lung benefits are protected.
Read MoreAdvocates respond to new rule cracking down on coal industry’s abandonment of black lung liabilities
Amid new coal mergers, new Department of Labor safeguard closes “self-insurance” loopholes that currently allow industry to dump liabilities on Black Lung Trust Fund For Immediate Release December 11, 2024 Contact: Trey Pollard, trey@pollardcommunications.com COAL COUNTRY – Today, the Biden Administration’s Department of Labor released a new rule to address a long-abused loophole that allows…
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 MoreGaming 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.
Read MoreGaming 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.
Read MoreGaming 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.
Read MorePermanent 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.
Read MoreHouse 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 the White House for his signature. The legislation includes billions of dollars in spending and…
Read MoreAppalachian 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.
Read MoreAdvocates 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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