Rep. Summer Lee Introduces Bill to Increase Benefits for Miners Suffering from Black Lung Disease

Bill Text (PDF)

WASHINGTON. D.C. - JUNE 30, 2026 - Today, Congresswoman Summer L. Lee (PA-12) introduced the Support Our Miners Act, legislation to increase federal benefits for coal miners disabled by black lung disease and ensure those benefits keep pace with inflation in future years.

For decades, coal miners suffering from black lung disease and their families have relied on federal benefits to help cover basic living expenses and medical costs. But while the cost of living has steadily risen, black lung benefit rates have failed to keep pace. As a result, miners today receive benefits worth nearly 40 percent less than the original amount Congress established with the Black Lung Benefits Program in 1969. The Support Our Miners Act would increase monthly black lung benefits to restore the value Congress originally intended when the program was created and establish annual cost-of-living adjustments to prevent future erosion.

"Coal miners sacrificed their health to power this country, and they deserve benefits that allow them to live with dignity," said Rep. Lee. "For decades, disabled miners and their families have watched the value of their benefits shrink while the cost of housing, food, healthcare, and other necessities has continued to rise. The Support Our Miners Act is about keeping our promise to workers, honoring their sacrifices, and ensuring miners suffering from black lung receive the support they have earned."

In 1969, when the federal benefits program was created, a miner received $144.50 each month to help support their families once they were disabled and no longer able to work. In today's currency, that would be closer to $1,252.53 each month. Instead, the base benefit rate today is only $793.60. This bill would raise the federal black lung benefit rate from $793.60 a month ($9,523 annually) to $1,252.50 a month ($15,030 annually).

The legislation builds on growing calls to address the inadequacy of current black lung benefit levels. In 2025, Allegheny County passed a resolution urging Congress, including Pennsylvania Senators and Reps. Summer Lee and Chris Deluzio (PA-17), to increase monthly black lung benefits and address the significant loss in their value over time.

The Support Our Miners Act is endorsed by the Appalachian Citizens' Law Center, Appalachian Voices, the United Mine Workers of America and the National Black Lung Association.

"For far too long we have allowed coal miners to become sick and die from overexposure to coal and silica dust. This regulatory failure is unacceptable. But further, we have not taken action to update a long outdated black lung disability benefits system. We've allowed miners to be overexposed to dust, become sick, and then all we offer them is a benefits system that will not adequately support them and their families. We are so grateful for the leadership from Representative Lee in introducing the Support Our Miners Act which will increase monthly black lung disability benefits for miners, bringing the value of black lung benefits back up to the standard intended by Congress when they passed the Black Lung Benefits Act in 1972," said Rebecca Shelton, PhD, Director of Policy at Appalachian Citizens' Law Center.

"Right now, families in our coal communities are trying to get by on monthly disability benefits that simply haven't kept pace with inflation. The Support Our Miners Act's simple, commonsense tweak to the way benefits are calculated will have a tremendous impact on the lives of thousands of coal miners and family members in Appalachia and across the country. It's long overdue. We appreciate Rep. Lee for stepping up to make the black lung disability benefits more meaningfully address the cost of living for coal mining families today," said Quenton King, Government Affairs Specialist, Appalachian Voices.

The bill is co-sponsored by Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) and Congressman Morgan McGarvey (KY-03).

A copy of the bill text can be found here.

Congresswoman Summer Lee serves on the House Committee on Judiciary and the Committee on Education and Workforce. Since taking office in January 2023, she has delivered historic levels of federal investment totaling over $2.7 Billion brought back to Western PA, including over $580 million for infrastructure, over $110 million for affordable transit, over $500 million to keep clean energy manufacturing at home in Pennsylvania, and over $55 million on clean energy efforts in and around schools to help keep our kids and communities safe. These investments will help improve Western Pennsylvania's infrastructure and transit, ensure cleaner air and drinking water, lower housing costs, fund research institutions, fuel clean manufacturing, fund STEM innovation and entrepreneurship, boost workforce development, and create thousands of good paying union jobs.  Lee and her team have also delivered casework and constituent services to over 4,000 constituents with issues ranging from helping our seniors and disabled community access Medicare and social security to helping folks secure housing and helping families with immigration support and passports.