Support Our Miners Act

(1) Tens of thousands of coal miners across the country are disabled by, or have died from, black lung disease. Such miners and their families rely on black lung benefits as provided under section 412 of the Black Lung Benefits Act (30 U.S.C. 922) to pay for their healthcare and to provide monthly compensation.

(2) When section 412 of the Black Lung Benefits Act (30 U.S.C. 922) was enacted in 1969, a miner received about $144.50 per month to help support their cost of living, equating to about $1,252.53 annually in today’s currency, adjusting for inflation.

(3) The benefit rate, as established in 1969, has not kept up with the cost of living. Today, miners receive nearly 40 percent less than the value of the original amount adjusting for inflation.

(1) by striking during the disability and inserting during the disability:;

(2) by striking at a rate and inserting the following:

(A) For any calendar year preceding 2026, at a rate; and

(3) by striking step 1. and inserting step 1.

(B) For calendar year 2026, for each month after the date of enactment of the Support Our Miners Act for which benefits are payable to such miner, at a monthly pay rate equal to the quotient of—

(i) $15,030, and

(ii) 12.

(C) For calendar year 2027 and each succeeding calendar year—

(i) at an annual rate equal to the product of—

(aa) for calendar 2027, $15,030; or

(bb) for a calendar year after calendar year 2027, the annual rate determined under this subparagraph for the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year for which the determination is being made under this subparagraph, and

(II) the greater of one or the ratio of—

(aa) the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers, as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, for the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year for which the determination is being made under this subparagraph; to

(bb) such Consumer Price Index for the second calendar year preceding the calendar year for which the determination is being made under this subparagraph; and

(ii) at a monthly rate equal to the quotient of—

(I) the annual rate determined under clause (i) for the calendar year for which the determination is being made under this subparagraph; and

(II) 12.