Support Our Miners Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9556
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Labor and Employment
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-30: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-09T22:23:13Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 9556 – Support Our Miners Act
Purpose of the Legislation
This bill amends the Black Lung Benefits Act to increase monthly compensation payments for coal miners disabled by black lung disease and their survivors. The changes address the erosion of benefit value due to inflation since the original 1969 rates were set.
Key Provisions Outlined
- Establishes new benefit calculations under Section 412(a) of the Black Lung Benefits Act (30 U.S.C. 922(a)(1)).
- For calendar years before 2026, benefits remain at the existing rate tied to step 1 of the federal employee pay scale.
- For 2026, sets a fixed annual benefit amount of $15,030, paid monthly at $1,252.50.
- For 2027 and each following year, adjusts the annual rate by multiplying the prior year's amount by the greater of 1 or the ratio of the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics) from the preceding year to the year before that, then divides by 12 for the monthly rate.
- Applies the new rates to benefits payable after the bill's enactment date.
Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced
- Replaces the static benefit structure (unchanged in real value since 1969) with an automatic annual cost-of-living adjustment mechanism based on a specific inflation index.
- Introduces a one-time base increase to $15,030 annually in 2026, followed by ongoing indexation that prevents future erosion below the prior year's level.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: The Department of Labor, which administers the black lung benefits program, would handle recalculated payments and CPI adjustments, potentially requiring updated administrative processes.
- Citizens: Coal miners and their families would receive higher monthly compensation to cover healthcare and living costs, addressing the documented 40 percent shortfall relative to 1969 inflation-adjusted values.
- International relations: No direct effects identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Coal miners disabled by black lung disease and their surviving family members.
- The Department of Labor's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.
- Coal mining operators, who contribute to the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund that finances many benefits.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The legislation operates within existing federal authority over workers' compensation for occupational diseases and does not alter constitutional structures or raise apparent separation-of-powers concerns.
- It focuses on statutory benefit enhancements without creating new regulatory mandates or international obligations.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17], Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-30: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2026-06-30: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-30: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Support Our Miners Act — issued 2026-06-30 — PDF (4 pages)