Sponsors (11)
The bill makes it easier and less costly for many miners and survivors to obtain Black Lung benefits and funds upfront legal/medical support while preserving fund recovery from liable operators, but it shifts short-term costs and administrative burdens onto operators and the Black Lung fund, limits what fees/medical payments are covered, and relies on a GAO review that may delay concrete relief.
Survivors of miners and disabled miners will have stronger presumptions that pneumoconiosis caused death, making it easier for them to obtain Black Lung benefits.
Miners and survivors can have attorneys' fees and certain unreimbursed medical costs (capped amounts) paid from the Black Lung fund up front, reducing immediate out-of-pocket costs to pursue or defend claims.
Liable coal operators are required to reimburse the Black Lung fund when a final award issues, which helps preserve fund resources and limits permanent shifts of cost to taxpayers.
Caps on attorneys' fees and medical reimbursements (e.g., $4,500 fees, $3,000 medical) may be insufficient for complex claims, leaving low-income claimants to cover extra costs or deterring legal representation.
The GAO review and required reporting do not themselves change benefits, so beneficiaries may wait up to a year for any relief or policy changes addressing interim payment recoupment hardships.
Employers/operators face increased liability and potential administrative costs reimbursing the fund for attorneys' fees and medical payments, which could raise operating costs in the coal industry and affect small operators.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Strengthens presumptions that black lung caused miners' deaths, restores survivor coverage, creates a DOL program to pay limited attorney fees and medical costs, and orders GAO reviews.
Strengthens legal protections for miners and their survivors by making it easier to presume a miner’s death was caused by pneumoconiosis (black lung), restores survivor coverage for miners who were totally disabled by the disease at death, and creates a Department of Labor program to pay limited attorney fees and unreimbursed medical expenses from the Black Lung fund. It also orders the Government Accountability Office to complete three reviews—on interim payments, benefit adequacy, and claims-filing rules—and report to Congress within one year. Changes apply to claims filed as far back as five years before enactment and to claims pending at enactment; the Department must set up the payment program within 180 days and GAO must deliver reports within one year.
Introduced December 16, 2025 by Morgan McGarvey · Last progress December 16, 2025