HR161 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Kyle South

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

U.S. Congress, urged to pass the Miners Protection Act

Summary

This Alabama House resolution urges Congress to pass the Miners Protection Act to protect retired coal miners’ health care and pensions.

What This Bill Does

It notes the importance of guaranteed benefits for coal miners and the risk of losing them due to company bankruptcies. If enacted, the Miners Protection Act would amend the Coal Act to let retirees from recently bankrupt coal companies obtain health care coverage from the UMWA Health and Retirement Funds. It would also repurpose the balance of an existing appropriation to provide funding to shore up the Pension Plan and secure benefits for retirees and their families.

Who It Affects

• Retired coal miners and their dependents/survivors who would gain health care coverage and pension protections.
• UMWA Health and Retirement Funds and the Miners Pension Plan, which would administer the new health care coverage and receive funding to shore up the pension system.

Key Provisions

• Amends the Coal Act to allow retirees from recently bankrupt coal companies to obtain health care coverage through the UMWA Health and Retirement Funds.
• Repurposes the balance of an existing appropriation to provide funding to shore up the UMWA Pension Plan.
• Urges the U.S. Congress to pass the Miners Protection Act promptly and provide the full benefits promised to retirees.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Resolutions, Legislative