Morgan McGarvey (D-KY)
Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act of 2025
A Democratic bill with 5 Democratic cosponsors · See all 5 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act of 2025 aims to ensure claims for benefits under the Black Lung Benefits Act are processed fairly and quickly. It seeks to better protect miners from pneumoconiosis, commonly known as black lung disease. The bill includes provisions to improve the process for filing and adjudicating claims for miners and their families. It also establishes the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs within the Department of Labor. Additionally, the legislation focuses on increasing the financial security of the Black Lung Benefits Disability Trust Fund. Finally, the bill aims to restore adequate benefit adjustments to keep up with the cost of living.
Yes· 3 of 10
- Scored +8
Would people with disabilities be better off under this?
The bill establishes an irrebuttable presumption of disability for certain medical findings, facilitating faster relief.
- Scored +7
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill provides critical financial assistance and covers medical/legal expenses for low-income claimants.
- Scored +7
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The bill improves access to medical evaluations, high-quality scans, and pulmonary experts for claimants.
The opposite
- Scored -6
Would business owners be better off under this?
Mine operators face significantly higher fines and stricter requirements for self-insurance.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Access to Legal and Medical Support: The bill provides assistance with claims for miners and their dependent family members (Sec. 101) and establishes a program to pay for attorneys' fees and reasonable, unreimbursed medical expenses to help establish a claimant's case (Sec. 106).
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Clearer Eligibility Standards: The bill establishes an irrebuttable presumption of total disability or death due to pneumoconiosis if certain medical tests, such as specific chest radiographs or CT scans, establish the disease (Sec. 102).
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Enhanced Medical Evaluations: The Secretary is required to provide claimants the opportunity for a complete pulmonary evaluation, which may include high-quality chest scans (Sec. 103).
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Fairer Benefit Adjustments: The bill restores benefit adjustments so that payments are no longer tied solely to static pay rates but are instead adjusted annually based on the Consumer Price Index to keep up with the cost of living (Sec. 107).
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Addressing Past Medical Errors: The bill allows for the readjudication of certain cases involving chest radiographs that were previously used to deny benefits based on discredited expert opinions (Sec. 105).
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Increased Accountability for Coal Companies: The bill implements new requirements for coal mine operators to prove they are financially capable of acting as self-insurers to ensure benefits are paid (Sec. 131).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Penalties for Misrepresentation: Individuals who knowingly make false statements or misrepresentations regarding benefits can face fines and up to five years in prison (Sec. 104).
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Professional Consequences for Experts: Attorneys or expert witnesses who engage in false statements or misrepresentations can be permanently disqualified from representing parties or appearing in proceedings under this title (Sec. 104).
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Legal Sanctions for Discovery Failures: Administrative law judges have the authority to sanction parties that fail to comply with discovery orders, which can include drawing adverse inferences or rendering default decisions (Sec. 104).
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Increased Costs for Mine Operators: Coal mine operators will face higher fines—increasing from $1,000 to $25,000—for failing to secure the payment of benefits (Sec. 131).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — The bill establishes an irrebuttable presumption of disability for certain medical findings, facilitating faster relief. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill provides critical financial assistance and covers medical/legal expenses for low-income claimants. Would retired people be better off under this? — The bill protects the long-term financial security of retired miners through cost-of-living adjustments. Would union members be better off under this? — The bill strengthens legal support and adjudication processes for workers facing occupational diseases. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill provides more secure and adjusted benefits for older, retired miners and their survivors. Would business owners be better off under this? — Mine operators face significantly higher fines and stricter requirements for self-insurance.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this strengthen Social Security? — The bill provides financial support and legal assistance to miners and their dependent families. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill increases financial stability for vulnerable miners and survivors through inflation-adjusted benefits.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill improves access to medical evaluations, high-quality scans, and pulmonary experts for claimants.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates the creation of a public list of qualified physicians and requires specific reporting strategies.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill targets economic relief for specific workers through benefit adjustments and fund security.
- 1/20/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 1/7/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/18/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/16/2025
- Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
André CarsonDemocrat · Indiana
Maxine DexterDemocrat · Oregon
Summer LeeDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Robert ScottDemocrat · Virginia
Rashida TlaibDemocrat · Michigan