Short-term provisions to protect retired coal miners’ pensions were included in a continuing resolution released on Wednesday, but lawmakers highlighted the need for a long-term solution.
U.S. Reps. Rodney Davis (R-IL) and Larry Bucshon (R-IN) and U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) spoke in favor of a long-term solution after the continuing resolution included a provision to protect coal miners’ pensions for four months.
“While I am disappointed that we are not voting on a permanent solution that ensures both health care and pension promises to miners are kept, having this provision in the continuing resolution ensures miners will not lose their health care benefits at the end of the month,” Davis said. “This gives us time to work with the Trump administration to pass the Coal Health Care and Pension Protection Act, which I believe is the best way to protect miners’ hard-earned pensions and health benefits.”
The Coal Health Care and Pension Protection Act would transfer funds from the Abandoned Mine Land Trust Fund, which has approximately $400 million set aside to clean up abandoned mines, to the underfunded United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) 1974 pension plan.
Financial losses in 2008 and the closure of many mines has left UMWA pension plan insolvent. There are currently only 10,000 active workers to support 120,000 retirees.
Bucshon, meanwhile, called the short-term fix a step in the right direction.
“As the son of a retired UMWA coal miner and a physician, I’m happy that Congress has come to a temporary solution that will protect the health care benefits of retired miners and their families,” Bucshon said.
“While I understand this is not a permanent solution, it is a step in the right direction that makes sure retirees do not lose their health benefits. I’ve long been working with retired miners, industry leaders and congressional leadership to develop a more permanent solution to this impending problem facing Hoosier retirees and will continue working to get one,” Bucshon added.
Capito said she was disappointed the full Coal Health Care and Pension Protection Act was not included in the continuing resolution.
“While the short-term, four-month patch will prevent our miners from losing their health care benefits in just a few weeks, we have more work to do. I will continue fighting until a long-term solution is reached,” Capito said.