From I Love Mountains (http://www.ilovemountains.org):
We need your help. There are only a few weeks left before Congress adjourns for the year, and that means only a few weeks left to get desperately needed proposals passed to help our Appalachian communities.
Rates of black lung disease have hit a 25-year high in Appalachian coal mining states. Unless Congress takes action before the end of 2018, major financial problems face the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund, which provides black lung benefits to coal miners and their surviving dependents in cases where the miners’ employer has gone bankrupt.
At the same time, the RECLAIM Act (HR 1731) has stalled in Congress despite broad bipartisan support. This bill commits $1 billion to projects that clean up abandoned coal mines and waters polluted by them, and would lay a foundation for future economic development and diversification in communities hit hardest by the coal industry’s downturn. This bill is a major opportunity for these communities to rebuild themselves by creating new, diverse economies on their own terms.
This week, volunteers from around the country have traveled to D.C. to meet with members of Congress and deliver thousands of postcards and petitions, as well as dozens of resolutions passed by local governments across Appalachia. Help us support them — we need your voice to make clear that we will not be ignored.
Please take a few minutes to take action…
- Call your members of Congress and tell them to take immediate action in the proposed tax extender package to protect coal communities with these important investments. Contact the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for your member’s office. Find your representative at http://www.house.gov.
- Sign the petition urging Congress to take action to ensure coal companies pay their fair share to provide benefits to miners with black lung at http://www.powerplusplan.org/black-lung.
- Post on social media in support of the volunteers in D.C. meeting with congressional leaders and staff. Find sample images here and sample posts might include:
Since 2000, the rate of #blacklung among veteran coal miners has doubled across the nation. In the midst of this epidemic, black lung benefits for nearly 19,000 miners and their dependents are being threatened in Congress. Congress must take action now! http://www.BlackLungKills.org.
The RECLAIM Act (HR 1731) is an opportunity to create jobs, empower local communities, and build long-term opportunities for working families in communities where coal has historically been the backbone of the local economy. Members of Congress must pass the bill now!
Be part of a broad coalition standing up for coal miners who have been left behind. Congress must save the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund and pass the RECLAIM Act (HR 1731) to help communities hit hardest by the coal industry’s downturn. Take action now!
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