Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act of 2025
House Bill Would Expand Black Lung Benefits, Speed Up Claims for Coal Miners
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- Helps coal miners and their families file black lung claims by expanding federal help with medical exams and claim support.
- Makes it easier to prove severe black lung by clearly allowing evidence like CT scans, biopsies, and other accepted tests.
- Creates a program to pay some attorney fees and certain medical case-building costs when a contested claim drags past 2 years, with coal companies repaying the fund if they ultimately owe benefits.
- Raises and then inflation-adjusts the yearly benefit amount starting in 2026, so payments don’t fall behind as prices rise.
- Tightens rules for coal companies that self-insure and increases penalties for failing to secure benefit payments, aiming to protect the trust fund and ensure benefits get paid.
Impact Analysis
Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.
Milestones
Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
4 articlesLawmakers reintroduce bill to boost miners' black lung benefits
Legislation reintroduced in the House and Senate aims to ease access to healthcare and benefits for coal miners with black lung. The bill would require full disclosure of medical info, allow more legal assistance, and adjust benefits for cost-of-living increases.
Democrats move to bolster miner health benefits
Democrats from coal-heavy states reintroduced the Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act to help miners access benefits, adjust for inflation, and expand legal assistance. The bill also improves access to CT scans and increases penalties for operators who fail to secure benefits.
Coal Miners Were Poised to Win Key Safety Protections. Then Trump Showed Up.
While miners fight for better benefits through the Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act, which would tie stipends to inflation, they face political hurdles. The bill aims to streamline the arduous claims process where coal companies often outgun miners with legal resources.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act of 2025
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(4)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.