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.
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Gaming the system — Part III
TAGS: Alpha Natural Resources Black Lung Black Lung Benefits Act Black Lung Disability Trust Fund black lung excise tax Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act U.S. Department of Labor
Gaming 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.
TAGS: Alpha Natural Resources Black Lung Black Lung Benefits Act Black Lung Disability Trust Fund black lung excise tax Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act U.S. Department of Labor
Gaming 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.
TAGS: Alpha Natural Resources Black Lung Black Lung Benefits Act Black Lung Disability Trust Fund black lung excise tax Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act U.S. Department of Labor
Permanent 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.
TAGS: Black Lung Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act Black Lung Disability Trust Fund black lung excise tax Inflation Reduction Act National Black Lung Association Relief for Survivors of Miners Act silica dust
Inflation Reduction Act passes the Senate with historic climate investments, permanent black lung excise tax extension, rural energy infrastructure and more
CONTACT: Molly Moore, Director of Program Communications, (847) 401-3633, molly@appvoices.org WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the U.S. Senate passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which contains many of the climate and energy investments that President Biden pushed for in his Build Back…
TAGS: 117th Congress appalachia black lung excise tax budget reconciliation clean energy jobs Climate change Senate
Trusting the movement during a moment of loss
The end of negotiations to include clean energy and climate spending in the reconciliation plan is a harsh blow, but we will continue to fight for a better future for Appalachia, and for our planet.
TAGS: Appalachian Solar Finance Fund black lung excise tax Build Back Better Act clean energy jobs Climate change pipelines President Joe Biden Sen. Joe Manchin
Advocates 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).
TAGS: Appalachian Citizens Law Center black lung association Black Lung Disability Trust Fund black lung excise tax Congress
POSTPONED: Miners with black lung launch two weeks of demonstrations urging Sen. Capito to back 10-year extension of Black Lung Excise Tax
Contact Trey Pollard, 202-904-9187, trey@pollardcommunications.com Due to inclement weather and the increased risk it poses to people with black lung, these demonstrations have been postponed. This press release was updated at 11 a.m. on Dec. 6. CHARLESTON, WV — Today,…
TAGS: Appalachian Citizens Law Center Black Lung black lung association Black Lung Disability Trust Fund black lung excise tax Senator Joe Manchin Senator Shelley Moore Capito West Virginia
Miners 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.
TAGS: Black Lung black lung association Black Lung Disability Trust Fund black lung excise tax Coal coal miners
Black 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.
TAGS: Black Lung Disability Trust Fund black lung disease black lung excise tax black lung severance tax coal miners
