Capito, Portman introduce bipartisan legislation to protect pensions of retired miners

U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Rob Portman (R-OH) continue to stand up for the rights of coal miners, this time fighting to protect the pensions of retired miners with new bipartisan legislation.

The Miners Pension Protection Act would amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to transfer funds from the Abandoned Mine Land fund to the 1974 Pension Plan, which is headed toward insolvency amid the downturn in the coal industry.

Capito and Portman also led efforts to preserve the health care benefits of retired miners through the Miners Protection Act, S. 175. A provision of the bill approved earlier this month permanently prevented 22,600 retired miners from losing health coverage in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis and a rash of coal industry bankruptcies.

“Securing permanent health care for our miners and their families was only half the battle,” Capito said. “The Miners Pension Protection Act is our commitment to continue the fight for these hardworking men and women. This legislation will help ensure they receive the pensions they’ve earned through years of hard work. So many West Virginians are still facing uncertain futures. I’m proud to stand with our miners and with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle as we work to deliver the peace of mind they deserve.”

Speaking in support of the Miners Pension Protection Act, Portman said that Congress must protect the hard-earned pensions of the nation’s coal miners.

“While we made some progress by securing a permanent health care fix, we must continue to fight for their pensions — income they worked hard to secure that is at risk due to no fault of their own,” Portman said. “I will keep fighting for our coal miners until this bipartisan legislation is signed into law.”

Capito and Portman were joined by a bipartisan group of five senators in introducing the legislation. The bill has 14 additional bipartisan cosponsors, including U.S. Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC), Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH).