Four U.S. Senators recently hosted a roundtable discussion of Black Lung Disease. Attendees included coal miners and their families, healthcare experts and the president of the United Mine Workers of America.
During the roundtable, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced the Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act. The act would strengthen the Black Lung Benefits Program by requiring the U.S. Department of Labor to develop a strategy aimed at reducing the claims backlog and restoring lost cost-of-living increases to black lung disability benefits.
The bill also would improve miners’ access to medical evidence and legal representation so claims can be adjudicated. This also is expected to prohibit unethical behavior by attorneys and doctors.
“Miners helped build this nation, powered our factories and homes and fueled decades of prosperity by doing some of the most difficult work there is,” Casey said. “The promises made to coal miners have been broken when politicians in Washington, D.C. listened to powerful special interests over the needs of miners and their families. I am proud to say that I have stood with miners over the years and will continue to support them in the face of this terrible disease.”
The bill was is cosponsored by Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Joe Manchin (D-WV), who hosted the roundtable, and Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA).