Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act of 2015
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HR 3625 — Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act of 2015
Last action — Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.
No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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Died in session
This bill died with 114th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.
Summary
Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act of 2015 This bill amends the Black Lung Benefits Act to revise requirements for miners' claims for pneumoconiosis (black lung) benefits. A mine operator must give a copy of the examining physician's report to miners required to have a medical examination of their respiratory condition. The Department of Labor must pay the attorneys' fees of prevailing parties on a qualifying black lung benefit claim. This bill revises: (1) the standards of medical evidence that establish a presumption that a miner is totally disabled by black lung, and (2) payments to miners (including their dependents) totally disabled by black lung. Black lung clinics may use federal funds to help individuals file black lung benefit claims. A person may not: (1) make a false statement or misrepresentation in increasing or reducing black lung benefits, or (2) threaten or mislead a participant in a proceeding regarding black lung benefits. Labor, upon request, must give a claimant the opportunity to substantiate a claim for benefits through a pulmonary evaluation of the miner. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) must establish a pilot program to assure accurate classifications of chest radiographs in black lung cases where the diagnosis is at issue. Labor, in coordination with NIOSH, must educate certain individuals who work on black lung benefits about medical evidence relevant to claims. A previously denied claimant may file a claim for black lung benefits within one year after enactment of this Act. Labor must report to Congress a strategy to reduce the backlog of black lung cases pending before the Office of Administrative Law Judges. The General Accountability Office must report on any barriers to health care faced by coal miners with black lung. This bill amends the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 to direct Labor to use data from continuous personal dust monitors to determine whether to make changes to respirable dust concentration standards, controls, and measurements. Establishment of the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs is codified.
Bill Text
We don't have the full text on file for this bill yet.
Read HR 3625 on the official United States source →Action History
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Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.
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Referred to House Ways and Means
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Referred to House Education and the Workforce
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Referred to the Committee on Education and the 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.
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Introduced in House
Sponsors
- Matthew Cartwright · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 546 not signed on
Sponsors (1)
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (546)
546 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 546 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does HR 3625 do?
- Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act of 2015 This bill amends the Black Lung Benefits Act to revise requirements for miners' claims for pneumoconiosis (black lung) benefits. A mine operator must give a copy of the examining physician's report to miners required to have a medical examination of their respiratory condition. The Department of Labor must pay the attorneys' fees of prevailing parties on a qualifying black lung benefit claim. This bill revises: (1) the standards of medical evidence that establish a presumption that a miner is totally disabled by black lung, and (2) payments to miners (including their dependents) totally disabled by black lung. Black lung clinics may use federal funds to help individuals file black lung benefit claims. A person may not: (1) make a false statement or misrepresentation in increasing or reducing black lung benefits, or (2) threaten or mislead a participant in a proceeding regarding black lung benefits. Labor, upon request, must give a claimant the opportunity to substantiate a claim for benefits through a pulmonary evaluation of the miner. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) must establish a pilot program to assure accurate classifications of chest radiographs in black lung cases where the diagnosis is at issue. Labor, in coordination with NIOSH, must educate certain individuals who work on black lung benefits about medical evidence relevant to claims. A previously denied claimant may file a claim for black lung benefits within one year after enactment of this Act. Labor must report to Congress a strategy to reduce the backlog of black lung cases pending before the Office of Administrative Law Judges. The General Accountability Office must report on any barriers to health care faced by coal miners with black lung. This bill amends the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 to direct Labor to use data from continuous personal dust monitors to determine whether to make changes to respirable dust concentration standards, controls, and measurements. Establishment of the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs is codified.
- Who sponsors HR 3625?
- HR 3625 is sponsored by Matthew Cartwright (D).
- What is the current status of HR 3625?
- This bill died with 114th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
- Where can I track HR 3625?
- Track HR 3625 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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