Sponsors (3)
The bill strengthens access to black lung benefits and reduces upfront legal/medical cost barriers for miners and survivors, but does so by increasing demands on the Black Lung Trust Fund (and potentially taxpayers), shifting some burdens to employers, and relying on GAO-driven study and subsequent policy action to resolve remaining protections and cost issues.
Survivors of miners and miners who were totally disabled by pneumoconiosis: restored presumptions and pre-1981 coverage language make it materially easier for families to obtain death benefits.
Claimants (miners and survivors): the Black Lung Trust Fund can promptly pay attorneys' fees and unreimbursed medical expenses up to statutory caps, and those fund-authorized payments cannot be recouped from claimants or their attorneys, reducing upfront financial barriers and repayment risk for pursuing claims.
Beneficiaries and Congress: a GAO review will analyze whether recoupment causes severe financial hardship and whether interim payments are adequate, providing evidence to inform protections for beneficiaries and possible benefit-level adjustments.
Taxpayers and future beneficiaries: using the Black Lung Trust Fund to pay attorneys' fees and medical costs increases fund outlays and could deplete resources available for other benefits or administrative needs.
Taxpayers: if GAO recommends and Congress adopts higher benefit levels or additional protections, federal spending (and thus taxpayer costs) could increase.
Employers/operators (including small businesses): requirements to reimburse the fund after a final award may impose administrative and financial burdens.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Introduced December 16, 2025 by Mark R. Warner · Last progress December 16, 2025
Amends the Black Lung Benefits Act to strengthen rules that presume a coal miner’s death was caused by pneumoconiosis, restores earlier (“pre‑1981”) disability language to expand eligibility, and creates a Secretary‑administered program to pay limited attorneys’ fees and unreimbursed medical expenses from the Black Lung Fund for certain contested claims. It also requires the Government Accountability Office to complete three reviews—on interim payment recoupment effects, adequacy of benefit levels, and the impact of allowing survivors to file subsequent claims—and report to Congress within one year. The bill applies many changes retroactively to Part C claims filed on or after five years before enactment and to pending claims, directs the Secretary to set up the payment program within 180 days with strict per‑claim caps, and requires liable operators to reimburse the Fund when a final compensation order is entered.