Relief for Survivors of Miners Act of 2025

This bill changes the Black Lung Benefits Act to change how survivors of coal miners qualify for benefits when a miner's death may have been caused by black lung disease (pneumoconiosis). It would presume a miner's death was due to the disease if the miner was totally disabled by it while alive, and this presumption could be overcome only by showing that no part of the death was caused by the disease. The changes would apply to claims filed within 5 years before the law takes effect and still pending. The bill also creates a program, paid from the black lung fund, to pay attorneys' fees and medical expenses in contested claims not decided within one year, with coal operators repaying the fund if benefits are awarded. It also directs the Government Accountability Office to study interim payments, benefit amounts, and survivors' ability to file new claims.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Mark R. Warner Democrat sponsor
• 3 cosponsors