Senator McConnell Secures Permanent Fix for Coal Miners' Health Care Benefits

Press Release

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) announced today he secured a permanent extension of health care benefits for thousands of retired coal miners and their families. Senator McConnell, who met with Kentucky miners on a number of occasions to discuss the issue, secured the measure -- which is taken from his own HELP for Coal Miners Health Care Act -- in the FY 2017 omnibus appropriations bill. The Senate and the House are expected to vote on the bill this week.

"The provision I secured in this legislation will protect and permanently extend health care benefits for thousands of retired coal miners and their families," said Senator McConnell. "I recognize that the extension of health benefits for this group of retirees will not address all of the challenges facing every Kentucky miner or retiree, but I am proud that it will help address many of the health care needs of thousands of miners who fell victim to the steep downturn in coal production."

"22,600 retired miners, dependents and widows -- including more than 3,000 in Kentucky -- can now live their lives without the anxiety of having their health care benefits cut off next week, next year, or at any time in the future. This is a tremendous victory, and Sen. McConnell played a decisive role in making sure it happened. Our sincere thanks go to him and all those in Congress who worked for this day to come," said Steve Earle, International District Vice President, United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) District 12, from Madisonville, Kentucky.

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