Tell Your Representative to Support Extending the Black Lung Excise Tax

From ReImagine Appalachia (https://reimagineappalachia.org/):

When Congress failed to pass a four-year extension of the Black Lung Excise Tax in the Build Back Better Act before the new year began, that single source of revenue for the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund was cut by more than half. Now, with the trust fund losing more than $2.8 million a week. This means that the coal companies that are responsible are seeing a new tax benefit, while taxpayers will be paying the difference.

Thousands of coal miners and their families rely on the trust fund to pay their benefits —  – which includes health insurance and a small living stipend. The living stipend for a miner is less than $700 a month, but the health insurance can make all the difference for the survival of families dealing with this awful disease.

Tell your representative to support extending the Black Lung Excise Tax at https://secure.everyaction.com/ceiktdfo2kefrxyCm5ZfKQ2.

A four-year extension of the excise tax in the Build Back Better Act (BBBA) alongside other impactful policies for miners, including incentives for manufacturers to locate and create jobs within coal communities, and policies to ensure that workers have the right to form a union.

We must demand our public officials take care of people who contracted black lung disease and other chronic health problems while working in extractive industries, and we must demand they hold the responsible corporations accountable.

Can you take action to support this important fund? Please contact your House member today to ask them to support a long term extension of the Black Lung Excise Tax.

It’s truly unacceptable that the black lung excise tax was cut. Coal miners risked their lives to power this country. They deserve our support to make sure the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund remains solvent into the future. Support them by taking action today.