HR161 Summary

• Urges the United States Congress to pass the Miners Protection Act to provide health care and pension benefits to retired coal miners.

• Notes that coal miners have sacrificed more than 105,000 lives on the job and over 100,000 deaths from Black Lung disease, and deserve fulfillment of promised benefits.

• Describes how multiple coal companies have filed for bankruptcy and shed retiree obligations, leaving more than 26,000 retirees facing loss of health care benefits.

• References the Krug-Lewis agreement (1946) and subsequent collective bargaining agreements that guaranteed lifetime retirement and health care benefits to coal miners and their dependents.

• Cites Senate Bill S. 175 (introduced by Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito) and House Bill H.R. 179 (introduced by Representative David McKinley) as bipartisan solutions to protect miner benefits and prevent the UMWA Pension Fund from insolvency projected by 2022.