Description: This bill amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to transfer certain funds to the Multiemployer Health Benefit Plan and the 1974 United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) Pension Plan to provide health and pension benefits to retired coal miners and their families.

Fair Economy Impact: The United Mine Workers of America health care and pension fund faces insolvency because of a string of coal-industry bankruptcies.  This looming insolvency would leave thousands of retired miners without the retirement and health care benefits they earned.  Pension and health care obligations should be honored as part of a fair economy.

Actions:

• Introduced in Senate January 17, 2017
• Introduced in House January 3, 2017