[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9556 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9556
To amend the Black Lung Benefits Act to provide adequate benefits for
miners suffering from black lung disease, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 30, 2026
Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania (for herself, Mr. Deluzio, and Mr. McGarvey)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Education and Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Black Lung Benefits Act to provide adequate benefits for
miners suffering from black lung disease, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Support Our Miners Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Tens of thousands of coal miners across the country are
disabled by, or have died from, black lung disease. Such miners
and their families rely on black lung benefits as provided
under section 412 of the Black Lung Benefits Act (30 U.S.C.
922) to pay for their healthcare and to provide monthly
compensation.
(2) When section 412 of the Black Lung Benefits Act (30
U.S.C. 922) was enacted in 1969, a miner received about $144.50
per month to help support their cost of living, equating to
about $1,252.53 annually in today's currency, adjusting for
inflation.
(3) The benefit rate, as established in 1969, has not kept
up with the cost of living. Today, miners receive nearly 40
percent less than the value of the original amount adjusting
for inflation.
SEC. 3. ADEQUATE BENEFITS FOR MINERS.
Section 412(a) of the Black Lung Benefits Act (30 U.S.C. 922(a)(1))
is amended in the first paragraph--
(1) by striking ``during the disability'' and inserting
``during the disability:'';
(2) by striking ``at a rate'' and inserting the following:
``(A) For any calendar year preceding 2026, at a
rate''; and
(3) by striking ``step 1.'' and inserting ``step 1.
``(B) For calendar year 2026, for each month after
the date of enactment of the Support Our Miners Act for
which benefits are payable to such miner, at a monthly
pay rate equal to the quotient of--
``(i) $15,030, and
``(ii) 12.
``(C) For calendar year 2027 and each succeeding
calendar year--
``(i) at an annual rate equal to the
product of--
``(I)(aa) for calendar 2027,
$15,030; or
``(bb) for a calendar year after
calendar year 2027, the annual rate
determined under this subparagraph for
the calendar year immediately preceding
the calendar year for which the
determination is being made under this
subparagraph, and
``(II) the greater of one or the
ratio of--
``(aa) the Consumer Price
Index for Urban Wage Earners
and Clerical Workers, as
published by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics, for the
calendar year immediately
preceding the calendar year for
which the determination is
being made under this
subparagraph; to
``(bb) such Consumer Price
Index for the second calendar
year preceding the calendar
year for which the
determination is being made
under this subparagraph; and
``(ii) at a monthly rate equal to the
quotient of--
``(I) the annual rate determined
under clause (i) for the calendar year
for which the determination is being
made under this subparagraph; and
``(II) 12.''.
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