Senate leaders celebrated a hard-fought victory this week when a permanent extension of retired coal miners’ health care benefits was included in the omnibus appropriations bill that would fund government operations through fiscal year 2017.
U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), praised the announcement of the government spending bill, which provides a permanent fix to the expiring health benefits of 22,600 retired miners, dependents and widows.
“Protecting health care benefits for our nation’s coal miners has been one of my top priorities, and I am pleased that Congress has finally agreed on a permanent fix to preserve health care for these hardworking men and women,” U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) said. “I will continue to lead efforts in Congress that help put our miners back to work and rebuild local economies that rely on energy production.”
The benefits of miners and their families have been endangered as a result of the more than 25 coal mining companies nationwide that have filed for bankruptcy in recent years.
In the years since former President Barack Obama took office, thousands of miners have lost their jobs. That has led to fewer active workers available to pay into an expanding retirement pool, leaving health benefits in jeopardy for thousands of miner retirees.
Capito, Portman and McConnell each represent states that have been impacted by the decline of the coal industry and have worked for years to provide relief for struggling coal communities.
Portman, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, has focused on ensuring that the health benefits of retired coal miners were not interrupted.
“With most of Ohio’s power coming from coal, our miners keep the lights on for us,” Portman said. “These miners worked hard, played by the rules, and were promised these health care benefits, which — without this agreement — they would lose. This bipartisan agreement gives them the health care benefits they have earned, and peace of mind to their families. That is a victory for our miners and for Ohio.”
Language from a bill sponsored by McConnell, the Helping Ensure Long-term Protection (HELP) for Coal Miners Health Care Act, S. 176, was included in the government spending bill.
“The provision I secured in this legislation will protect and permanently extend health care benefits for thousands of retired coal miners and their families,” McConnell said. “I recognize that the extension of health benefits for this group of retirees will not address all of the challenges facing every Kentucky miner or retiree, but I am proud that it will help address many of the health care needs of thousands of miners who fell victim to the steep downturn in coal production.”
S. 176 would amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to transfer specific funds to the Multiemployer Health Benefit Plan, and it would expand the group of retirees taken into account by the Treasury Department when transferring funds from the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund and the general fund to the Multiemployer Health Benefit Plan.
The Senate and the House are expected to vote on the FY 2017 omnibus appropriations bill this week.