SR54 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Greg J. Reed

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

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

Summary

Alabama's Senate urges the U.S. Congress to pass the Miners Protection Act to protect retired coal miners' health care and pension benefits.

What This Bill Does

It communicates that Alabama supports federal legislation to help retirees from coal mining. It asks Congress to pass the Miners Protection Act quickly and ensure retirees get the benefits they were promised. It states a copy will be sent to Alabama's Congressional delegation; the resolution itself is nonbinding and does not change Alabama law.

Who It Affects

• Retired coal miners and their dependents, who would gain access to health care and pension funding if the Miners Protection Act becomes law.
• The United States Congress and Alabama's Congressional delegation, who are the audience of the resolution and would be urged to act on the federal legislation.

Key Provisions

• The resolution declares America has an obligation to retired coal miners.
• It urges the U.S. Congress to pass the Miners Protection Act as soon as possible and to provide the full benefits promised to retirees.
• It notes that the Miners Protection Act would amend the Coal Act to allow retirees from recently bankrupt companies to obtain health care coverage from the UMWA Health and Retirement Funds, and would repurpose part of an existing appropriation to shore up the Pension Plan.
• It directs that a copy of the resolution be provided to Alabama's Congressional Delegation.

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