This bill makes it easier for families of deceased coal miners to receive Black Lung Benefits by changing the rules about how deaths are presumed to be caused by pneumoconiosis (a lung disease from coal dust). Instead of requiring survivors to prove their relative's death was caused by the disease, the bill shifts the burden to coal operators to prove it wasn't—making approvals more likely for miners who worked in coal mines for at least 10 years or were totally disabled by the disease. The legislation also establishes a new program to pay attorneys' fees (up to $4,500 per case) and medical expenses (up to $3,000 per case) for claimants whose cases take longer than a year to resolve, with coal operators required to reimburse the Black Lung Benefits fund when claims are approved. Additionally, the bill directs the Government Accountability Office to study interim benefit payments, whether current benefit amounts are sufficient for miners and survivors, and the possibility of allowing survivors to file subsequent claims after their initial cases are decided—with reports due to Congress within one year. The changes apply retroactively to claims filed within five years before enactment and any claims still pending when the bill becomes law.
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