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A bill to amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to transfer certain funds to the 1974 United Mine Workers of America Pension Plan, and for other purposes.

USA115th CongressS-1911| Senate 
| Updated: 10/3/2017
Joe Manchin

Joe Manchin

Independent Senator

West Virginia

Cosponsors (14)
Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Dan Sullivan (Republican)Joe Donnelly (Democratic)Mark R. Warner (Democratic)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)Heidi Heitkamp (Democratic)Doug Jones (Democratic)Robert P. Casey (Democratic)Tim Kaine (Democratic)Claire McCaskill (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Lisa Murkowski (Republican)Shelley Moore Capito (Republican)

Finance Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
American Miners Pension Act of 2017 This bill amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) to transfer certain funds and provide loans to the 1974 United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) Pension Plan in order to provide pension benefits for retired coal miners. The bill requires the Department of the Treasury to transfer additional funds from the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund and the General Fund of the Treasury to the 1974 UMWA Pension Plan to pay pension benefits required under that plan if the amounts available for transfer under SMCRA's $490 million annual limit exceed the amounts required to be transferred for other purposes (including to the UMWA Health Plans). The bill prohibits the plan from making certain changes to benefits during any year in which a transfer is received. Treasury must make annual loans to the plan equal to the amount certified by the trustees of the plan as necessary to prevent insolvency. The loans may not exceed $600 million per year. The trustees must annually certify that the plan is projected to be solvent and is able to repay the loans under terms specified in the bill. The bill also establishes additional reporting requirements for the plan.
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Timeline
Oct 3, 2017
Introduced in Senate
Oct 3, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Oct 6, 2017

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 115-3913
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
  • October 3, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • October 3, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.


  • October 6, 2017

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 115-3913
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

Labor and Employment

Related Bills

  • HR 115-3913: To amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to transfer certain funds to the 1974 United Mine Workers of America Pension Plan, and for other purposes.
  • HR 115-2713: To amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to transfer certain funds to the 1974 United Mine Workers of America Pension Plan, and for other purposes.
  • HR 115-179: To amend 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 Pension Plan, and for other purposes.
  • S 115-175: A bill to amend 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 Pension Plan, and for other purposes.
  • S 115-1105: A bill to amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to transfer certain funds to the 1974 United Mine Workers of America Pension Plan, and for other purposes.
  • HR 115-4426: To reform Federal onshore and offshore fossil fuel leasing, exploration, and development; promote renewable energy on public lands; prepare for the impacts of climate change; increase industry accountability; improve returns to taxpayers for the development of Federal energy resources; and protect special places, and for other purposes.
CoalEmployee benefits and pensionsGovernment information and archivesMiningSales and excise taxesTax administration and collection, taxpayers

A bill to amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to transfer certain funds to the 1974 United Mine Workers of America Pension Plan, and for other purposes.

USA115th CongressS-1911| Senate 
| Updated: 10/3/2017
American Miners Pension Act of 2017 This bill amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) to transfer certain funds and provide loans to the 1974 United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) Pension Plan in order to provide pension benefits for retired coal miners. The bill requires the Department of the Treasury to transfer additional funds from the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund and the General Fund of the Treasury to the 1974 UMWA Pension Plan to pay pension benefits required under that plan if the amounts available for transfer under SMCRA's $490 million annual limit exceed the amounts required to be transferred for other purposes (including to the UMWA Health Plans). The bill prohibits the plan from making certain changes to benefits during any year in which a transfer is received. Treasury must make annual loans to the plan equal to the amount certified by the trustees of the plan as necessary to prevent insolvency. The loans may not exceed $600 million per year. The trustees must annually certify that the plan is projected to be solvent and is able to repay the loans under terms specified in the bill. The bill also establishes additional reporting requirements for the plan.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Oct 3, 2017
Introduced in Senate
Oct 3, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Oct 6, 2017

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 115-3913
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
  • October 3, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • October 3, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.


  • October 6, 2017

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 115-3913
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
Joe Manchin

Joe Manchin

Independent Senator

West Virginia

Cosponsors (14)
Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Dan Sullivan (Republican)Joe Donnelly (Democratic)Mark R. Warner (Democratic)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)Heidi Heitkamp (Democratic)Doug Jones (Democratic)Robert P. Casey (Democratic)Tim Kaine (Democratic)Claire McCaskill (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Lisa Murkowski (Republican)Shelley Moore Capito (Republican)

Finance Committee

Labor and Employment

Related Bills

  • HR 115-3913: To amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to transfer certain funds to the 1974 United Mine Workers of America Pension Plan, and for other purposes.
  • HR 115-2713: To amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to transfer certain funds to the 1974 United Mine Workers of America Pension Plan, and for other purposes.
  • HR 115-179: To amend 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 Pension Plan, and for other purposes.
  • S 115-175: A bill to amend 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 Pension Plan, and for other purposes.
  • S 115-1105: A bill to amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to transfer certain funds to the 1974 United Mine Workers of America Pension Plan, and for other purposes.
  • HR 115-4426: To reform Federal onshore and offshore fossil fuel leasing, exploration, and development; promote renewable energy on public lands; prepare for the impacts of climate change; increase industry accountability; improve returns to taxpayers for the development of Federal energy resources; and protect special places, and for other purposes.
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
CoalEmployee benefits and pensionsGovernment information and archivesMiningSales and excise taxesTax administration and collection, taxpayers