Bill · S. 3505· Senate(119-S-3505)
Relief for Survivors of Miners Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 12/16/2025
- Last activity
- 12/16/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Sponsored by
- Mark Warner
- Cosponsors
- - 3 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Relief for Survivors of Miners Act of 2025 aims to amend the Black Lung Benefits Act to simplify the benefits process for those seeking aid after a miner's death. It introduces new rebuttable presumptions regarding deaths caused by pneumoconiosis, specifically for miners employed for at least 10 years or those who were totally disabled by the disease. The bill also restores certain pre-1981 provisions regarding total disability. Additionally, it establishes a new payment program to cover attorneys' fees and medical expenses for qualifying claims. Finally, it mandates several reviews by the Government Accountability Office regarding benefit payments and their impacts.
Yes· 3 of 6
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+5
The bill provides financial relief for legal and medical expenses to help claimants secure benefits.
Would union members be better off under this?+5
The bill strengthens the process for miners and their survivors to receive benefits related to occupational diseases.
Does this make health care easier to get in general?+5
The bill establishes a payment program to cover reasonable and unreimbursed medical expenses incurred during the benefit claim process.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Easier Proof for Survivors: The bill creates a rebuttable presumption that a miner's death was due to pneumoconiosis if they were employed in a coal mine for at least 10 years. This presumption can only be challenged if it is proven that no part of the death was caused by the disease (Section 2(a)(1)).
-
Protection for Disabled Miners: For miners who were totally disabled due to pneumoconiosis during their life, the bill creates a presumption that their death was caused by the disease. This can only be rebuttable by establishing that no part of the death was caused by pneumoconiosis (Section 2(a)(2)).
-
Financial Assistance for Legal and Medical Costs: A new program is established to pay attorneys' fees and reasonable, unreimbursed medical expenses incurred while establishing a claim. This is intended for "qualifying claims," which are contested claims where a final order has not been entered within one year (Section 2(d)).
-
Caps on Legal Expenses: The program sets specific limits on payments, such as up to $4,500 in attorneys' fees and up to $3,000 in medical expenses per qualifying claim (Section 2(d)(b)(3)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No Recoupment of Fees: While designed to protect claimants, the bill explicitly states that any payments made for attorneys' fees or medical expenses under the new program shall not be recouped from the claimant or their attorney (Section 2(d)(e)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Low Income Households+5Good For Union Workers+5Good For Seniors+4
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+5
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+3
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+2
- 9/29/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/16/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Angela AlsobrooksDemocrat · Maryland
John FettermanDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Timothy KaineDemocrat · Virginia