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Relief for Survivors of Miners Act of 2025

USA119th CongressS-3505| Senate 
| Updated: 12/16/2025
Mark R. Warner

Mark R. Warner

Democratic Senator

Virginia

Cosponsors (2)
Tim Kaine (Democratic)John Fetterman (Democratic)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The "Relief for Survivors of Miners Act of 2025" aims to streamline the benefits process for survivors of miners whose deaths were caused by pneumoconiosis. It significantly strengthens the rebuttable presumptions that a miner's death was due to black lung disease. For instance, if a miner worked for at least 10 years in a coal mine, the presumption of death due to pneumoconiosis can now only be rebutted by proving no part of the death was caused by the disease. A new presumption is also added for miners who were totally disabled by pneumoconiosis during their lifetime, establishing that their death was due to the disease unless proven otherwise. These changes apply to claims filed up to five years before the act's enactment or those pending on or after that date. The bill also restores certain pre-1981 provisions of the Black Lung Benefits Act, broadening eligibility for survivors. Specifically, it clarifies that benefits extend to survivors of miners who were totally disabled by pneumoconiosis at the time of their deaths. This aims to ensure more survivors can access the benefits they are due. Furthermore, the legislation establishes a new program to cover attorneys' fees and medical expenses for claimants in contested cases. This program will pay approved fees and expenses from the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund, up to specified maximums, for claims that remain unresolved for over a year. Under the new payment program, district directors and administrative law judges can approve attorneys' fees and medical expenses incurred in establishing a claimant's case. The Secretary of Labor will then pay these approved amounts, with liable operators required to reimburse the fund if a final award is granted. Importantly, these payments cannot be recouped from the claimant or their attorney. Finally, the bill mandates the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct several reviews, including the financial impact of interim benefit recoupment, the sufficiency of current benefit payments, and the feasibility of allowing survivors to file subsequent claims.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-757
Relief for Survivors of Miners Act of 2021

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-2416
Relief for Survivors of Miners Act of 2023
Dec 16, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-6757
Introduced in House
Dec 16, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Dec 16, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-757
    Relief for Survivors of Miners Act of 2021


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-2416
    Relief for Survivors of Miners Act of 2023


  • December 16, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-6757
    Introduced in House


  • December 16, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • December 16, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Labor and Employment

Related Bills

  • HR 119-6757: Relief for Survivors of Miners Act of 2025

Relief for Survivors of Miners Act of 2025

USA119th CongressS-3505| Senate 
| Updated: 12/16/2025
The "Relief for Survivors of Miners Act of 2025" aims to streamline the benefits process for survivors of miners whose deaths were caused by pneumoconiosis. It significantly strengthens the rebuttable presumptions that a miner's death was due to black lung disease. For instance, if a miner worked for at least 10 years in a coal mine, the presumption of death due to pneumoconiosis can now only be rebutted by proving no part of the death was caused by the disease. A new presumption is also added for miners who were totally disabled by pneumoconiosis during their lifetime, establishing that their death was due to the disease unless proven otherwise. These changes apply to claims filed up to five years before the act's enactment or those pending on or after that date. The bill also restores certain pre-1981 provisions of the Black Lung Benefits Act, broadening eligibility for survivors. Specifically, it clarifies that benefits extend to survivors of miners who were totally disabled by pneumoconiosis at the time of their deaths. This aims to ensure more survivors can access the benefits they are due. Furthermore, the legislation establishes a new program to cover attorneys' fees and medical expenses for claimants in contested cases. This program will pay approved fees and expenses from the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund, up to specified maximums, for claims that remain unresolved for over a year. Under the new payment program, district directors and administrative law judges can approve attorneys' fees and medical expenses incurred in establishing a claimant's case. The Secretary of Labor will then pay these approved amounts, with liable operators required to reimburse the fund if a final award is granted. Importantly, these payments cannot be recouped from the claimant or their attorney. Finally, the bill mandates the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct several reviews, including the financial impact of interim benefit recoupment, the sufficiency of current benefit payments, and the feasibility of allowing survivors to file subsequent claims.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

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

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-757
Relief for Survivors of Miners Act of 2021

Bill from Previous Congress

S 118-2416
Relief for Survivors of Miners Act of 2023
Dec 16, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 119-6757
Introduced in House
Dec 16, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Dec 16, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-757
    Relief for Survivors of Miners Act of 2021


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 118-2416
    Relief for Survivors of Miners Act of 2023


  • December 16, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 119-6757
    Introduced in House


  • December 16, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • December 16, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Mark R. Warner

Mark R. Warner

Democratic Senator

Virginia

Cosponsors (2)
Tim Kaine (Democratic)John Fetterman (Democratic)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

Labor and Employment

Related Bills

  • HR 119-6757: Relief for Survivors of Miners Act of 2025
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted