[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 8, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2730-S2731]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                          American Miners Act

  Mr. MANCHIN. Madam President, I rise today to call for immediate 
action on the American Miners Act. We have an obligation to the miners 
across America who have served our Nation by providing us with energy 
through our greatest advancements. They deserve to know that their 
pensions, which they rightfully worked for, will be funded fully, and 
they deserve to have accessible healthcare, which was guaranteed to 
them as well.
  As the Senate fails to act, we continue to put our retired miners' 
healthcare and pension benefits in jeopardy yet again. I have been 
working with everyone from every angle in order to prevent our miners 
from losing their healthcare and benefits. But, once again, they are 
facing a deadline that puts their whole livelihood at risk.
  This has been a long fight, and it is far from over. Everyone who has 
joined me in this journey understands that fighting for working people 
is what we were sent here to do. These retired miners are walking the 
halls and fighting for what is rightfully theirs. I am doing this for 
them. I promised them that this body will not abandon them, and I 
refuse to let them down.
  To give you some background, the 1974 pension plan will be insolvent 
by 2022 if we do not act. We needed to act a year ago or so, and we 
haven't done it. It is a shame. Miners who receive their healthcare 
through companies that went bankrupt in 2018 are at risk of losing 
coverage in the coming months if we fail to act soon.
  How did we get here? Unlike many other public and private pension 
plans, in 1974, the miners' pension plan was well managed and 94 
percent funded prior to the crash of 2008. However, the financial 
crisis hit at a time when this plan had its highest payment 
obligations. If the plan becomes insolvent, these beneficiaries will 
face benefit cuts, and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation will 
assume billions of dollars in liabilities.
  To address these issues, the American Miners Act would shore up the 
1974 pension plan, which is headed for insolvency due to coal company 
bankruptcies and the 2008 financial crisis. It would ensure that the 
miners who are at risk due to 2018 coal company bankruptcies will not 
lose their healthcare and extend the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund 
tax at $1.10 per ton of underground-mined coal and 55 cents per ton of 
surface-mined coal for 10 years.
  West Virginia has more retired union coal miners than any other 
State. More than 27,000 retirees live in West Virginia alone.
  I am going to read a letter to give you perspective on what we are 
dealing with. Richard from Morgantown, WV, said:

       I am writing this letter with respect and concern to 
     preserve our pension. My name is Richard. I live in 
     Morgantown, West Virginia. My career as an underground coal 
     miner lasted 35 years. I am soon to be 68 years old. Working 
     underground all those years, the physical labor tends to take 
     a toll on a person's body. I receive a monthly pension of 
     $1,466 a month from the UMWA Pension Fund. This monthly 
     pension is used to pay utility bills, purchase groceries, and 
     everyday necessities. I am also helping to support my five 
     year old grandson and his mother, who doesn't earn enough for 
     them to live on their own. You see, my daughter became 
     addicted to prescription opioids after having serious medical 
     problems. She has been clean for five years and is trying to 
     rebuild her life, but we are supporting her and her son. My 
     pension is a major source of income for my family and it 
     would be devastating if I were to lose any of it. I can't 
     imagine how we would survive. Our county and surrounding 
     counties are heavily dependent on the coal miners' pension. 
     Should we lose our pension, the economy in this area would 
     plummet. I am also writing as a voice for those who are 
     unable to write to you. I am asking your committee to 
     carefully consider the bill to preserve our pensions.

  I have another one from Gary from Southern West Virginia who wrote:

       I have worked in the [United Mine Workers] since 1973 at 
     Cannelton Coal. I worked about 13\1/2\ years, then had a lay-
     off in the early 80's, had to find work in another field, and 
     got a job driving a school bus for 25 years. I'm retired now, 
     but I still sub-drive for the county, was in [a] . . . bus 
     driver association, and also drive a bus for Ace Adventure 
     Resort. I am 74 now and still very active in the work force. 
     I thank God for my health. I am still married to a wonderful 
     woman, had 4 kids, 3 of them have passed away, one from 
     cancer, one [from] allergy, my daughter died from a drug 
     overdose. I am still paying on my daughter's funeral 
     expenses. This retirement check that I get every month is a 
     big help getting this bill paid, also had to pay on one of my 
     son's funeral expenses. Since 2011 it has been very hard 
     trying to keep your head above water. I only get $261 a month 
     but I am so thankful for what I get. It really helps out a 
     lot. Please find a way so we can keep our retirement check. 
     We will keep on praying for all you guys who are fighting for 
     us.


[[Page S2731]]


  I just want to finish by saying that these are people who have gone 
to work every day. They didn't take the money home because they were 
letting that go into their retirement pension, and they thought that 
was being taken care of and managed properly. It wasn't their fault. 
They have already paid, and now because of bankruptcies and financial 
collapses, they can't get the money. It is wrong. It is not who we are 
as a country.
  Through the bankruptcy laws that we have in America today, you can be 
in line if you are a financial institution--somebody that basically is 
in line before the person we are basically here to serve. The miners 
who get these pensions average $460 a month. That is the average 
pension they receive. That is not much. Most of these are widows, too, 
because the husbands have passed away.
  So I am asking--this has been a bipartisan bill. I appreciate all of 
my colleagues on the Republican side, all of my Democratic colleagues, 
and everybody for working and really trying to take care of the people 
whom we made a promise to. This was a pension that was guaranteed by 
Harry S. Truman with John L. Lewis at the time. It is in stone. It is 
there for us, and it is basically one we cannot walk away from.
  I thank the Presiding Officer.
  I yield the floor.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Wisconsin.