12.03.21

Rep. Cartwright Introduces Bill to Help Mine Workers with Black Lung Disease Receive Benefits

WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright (PA-08) introduced the Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act, legislation that would reform the program that provides benefits to coal miners suffering from black lung disease.

“Thousands of miners who suffer from the horrible effects of black lung disease are exploited by coal company lawyers who prevent mine workers and their families from receiving the benefits they deserve,” said Rep. Cartwright. “Mine workers and their survivors deserve a fair benefits system based on unbiased medical advice. This bill helps ensure disabled coal miners who deserve black lung benefits won’t be unfairly denied.”

BACKGROUND

Between 1968 and 2020, over 79,000 miners passed away from black lung disease. A horrific condition, black lung kills slowly, with victims losing their ability to breathe. 

Federal law requires that coal companies compensate disabled miners who contract black lung disease, but coal companies routinely deploy an array of unfair tactics to avoid paying miners the benefits they deserve through an adversarial litigation process. Coal miners often lack the resources, money and access to legal representation to counter these efforts.

Analysis by the Center for Public Integrity and ABC News found that doctors who are paid by coal companies have systematically misdiagnosed miners with black lung as having other diseases, thus preventing the miners from accessing benefits. Furthermore, hearings in the U.S. Senate showed that coal company lawyers have caused some miners’ claims to be denied by withholding medical evidence that proves that the miner has black lung.

BLACK LUNG BENEFITS IMPROVEMENT ACT

The Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act aims to level the playing field for miners and their survivors seeking benefits under the Black Lung Program that is administered by the Department of Labor. Specifically, the Act assists claimants by:

  • Requiring full disclosure of medical information related to a claim, whether or not such information is entered as evidence;
  • Enabling more miners to get legal assistance;
  • Allowing miners or their survivors to reopen their cases if they had been denied because of medical interpretations that have subsequently been discredited; and
  • Adjusting black lung benefits to increases in the cost of living.

This bill is co-sponsored in the U.S. House by Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03).

Text of the bill can be viewed HERE.

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Press Contact

Mia Robertson, 202-309-0189 (Rep. Cartwright)