NPR reports that dozens of coal miners will press members of Congress this week to restore a coal excise tax that pays for medical care and living expenses of miners diagnosed with black lung, which miners get from inhaling coal and silica dust.

The tax was slashed by 50% last year even though the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund is more than $4 billion in debt. The National Institute for Occupational Safety just released reports showing a continued increase in the advanced stage of black lung disease.

Coal miners will also demand that lawmakers force the Mine Safety and Health Administration to quickly and directly respond to the black lung epidemic. They also want the administration to respond to the amount of toxic silica exposure miners face.

Source: https://www.npr.org/2019/07/23/743152782/coal-miners-to-demand-congress-restore-full-black-lung-benefits-tax