Miners Protection Act of 2016

Bill 114 s 3470, also known as the Miners Protection Act of 2016, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress. The main purpose of this bill is to provide financial assistance to retired coal miners and their families who are facing uncertainty due to the decline of the coal industry.

The bill aims to address the issue of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) 1974 Pension Plan, which is currently facing insolvency. This plan provides pension benefits to retired coal miners who worked for companies that have since gone bankrupt. The Miners Protection Act of 2016 seeks to ensure that these retired miners continue to receive their pension benefits by transferring funds from the Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Fund to the UMWA 1974 Pension Plan.

In addition to addressing the pension issue, the bill also includes provisions to protect the health benefits of retired coal miners. It would transfer funds from the Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Fund to the UMWA Combined Benefit Fund, which provides health benefits to retired miners and their families. Overall, the Miners Protection Act of 2016 aims to provide financial security to retired coal miners and their families who have been negatively impacted by the decline of the coal industry. It seeks to ensure that these individuals continue to receive the pension and health benefits they were promised during their years of hard work in the mines.