The American Miners Act of 2019 ensures the promise of lifetime pensions and Black Lung funding to retired miners and their families
Washington, D.C. – In an effort to fulfill our nation’s promise to the miners who have kept the lights on for generations, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and a number of his colleagues introduced the American Miners Act of 2019, legislation to secure our nation’s retired miners pensions.
“It is our responsibility to keep our promises to the men and women who built our great nation,” said Senator Casey. “I won’t stop fighting until we’ve secured the promised pensions and an extension of the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund for coal miners and their families. I hope Congressional Republicans will join our mission to address this crucial issue in rural America.”
Specifically, the American Miners Act of 2019 would fulfill our promises to our nation’s coal miners by:
- Shoring up the 1974 Pension Plan which is headed for insolvency due to coal company bankruptcies and the 2008 financial crisis
- Ensuring that the miners who are at risk due to 2018 coal company bankruptcies will not lose their healthcare
- Extending the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund tax at $1.10 per ton of underground-mined coal and $0.55 per ton of surface-mined coal for ten years (This tax is critical for supporting the Black Lung Disability Trust fund, which provides healthcare and benefits to more than 25,000 miners and their dependents)
More information on the American Miners Act of 2019 is available here.
U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Doug Jones (D-AL) led this effort alongside Casey.
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