Posts Tagged ‘coal miners’
Advocates 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, 202-904-9187 COAL COUNTRY – Today, the Biden Administration’s Department of Labor released a new rule to address a long-abused loophole that…
Read MoreCoal Miners’ Widows Tell their Stories to Kentucky Rep. Morgan McGarvey
Currently, some miners’ widows can lose their black lung benefits in certain situations. A bill Congress would help make the system more fair.
Read MoreRegulators Poised to Update Miners’ Protections from Silica Dust
Expected new silica dust regulations in mines could combat the rise of black lung disease. However, the effects of an ongoing federal silica enforcement initiative remain unclear.
Read MoreBlack Lung Association asks Sen. Capito to support 10-year extension of black lung excise tax
Members of the Black Lung Association are asking U.S. Sen. Shelly Moore Capito to support a 10-year extension of the Black Lung Excise Tax to shore up funding for black lung benefits.
Read MoreMiners with black lung call on Congress to protect benefits
In an August webinar, advocates and representatives of the Black Lung Association discussed the critical importance for the passage of a permanent 25% increase to the Black Lung Excise Tax on coal companies.
Read MoreBlack Lung Benefit Fund Would See Major Boost from Change to Coal Tax
Changing the structure of a tax that funds federal benefits for miners could bring tens of millions of dollars annually to the cash-strapped Black Lung Disability Trust Fund.
Read MoreCongress includes one-year extension of black lung excise tax in omnibus spending bill
A one-year extension of the excise tax that funds the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund is included in the 2021 omnibus spending bill. This is the second year in a row that a one-year extension has been included in the spending bill on the brink of expiration. CONTACT: Rebecca Shelton, Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center, 859-893-0543,…
Read MoreBankruptcy Proposal Would Dodge Mine Cleanup Laws
As the Blackjewel bankruptcy continues, the responsibility to reclaim mine sites and workers’ compensation for past medical bills are still major issues.
Read MoreBlack lung service providers shift in the face of COVID-19
As coal miners with black lung disease have a heightened risk of complications from coronavirus, black lung healthcare providers work to respond to the global pandemic.
Read MoreProgress on healthcare for miners with black lung disease
Congress reinstated a tax to fund healthcare and benefits for miners with black lung and their families for 2020 — but further action is needed to extend the tax and support the fund for 10 years.
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