S. 2205 · 116th Congress
Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act of 2019
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Never voted on. It didn't reach a floor vote before the 116th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.
D
CaseySponsor4 cosponsors · 4 D
4 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.
This bill revises requirements for miners' claims for pneumoconiosis (black lung) benefits.
What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in Senate · Jul 23, 2019
Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act of 2019
This bill revises requirements for miners' claims for pneumoconiosis (black lung) benefits.
Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Labor to
- pay the attorneys' fees of prevailing parties on a qualifying benefit claim;
- give a claimant the opportunity to substantiate a claim for benefits through a pulmonary evaluation;
- authorize a CT (computerized tomography) scan in diagnosing complicated pneumoconiosis;
- educate certain individuals who work on black lung benefits about medical evidence relevant to claims;
- use data from continuous personal dust monitors to determine whether to make changes to respirable dust concentration standards, controls, and measurements; and
- develop a strategy to reduce delays in adjudication of black lung benefits claims.
The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to report on barriers to health care faced by coal miners with black lung.
The bill authorizes (1) black lung clinics to use federal funds to help individuals file claims, and (2) previously denied claimants to file a new claim for black lung benefits within one year.
The bill prohibits a person from (1) knowingly and willfully making a false statement or misrepresentation in increasing or reducing black lung benefits, or (2) threatening or misleading a participant in a proceeding regarding black lung benefits.
Further, the bill revises (1) the standards of medical evidence that establish a presumption that a miner is totally disabled by black lung, and (2) payments to such miners.
Lastly, the bill provides statutory authority for the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.
Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov
About this bill and sources
Official title: Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act of 2019
Latest action (Jul 23, 2019): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Policy area: Labor and Employment · Origin: Senate · Introduced: Jul 23, 2019
Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)
No recorded floor vote found.