[20020612]RS21239_黑肺福利计划.pdf

Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS21239June 12, 2002The Black Lung Benefits ProgramEdward RappaportAnalyst in Industry EconomicsDomestic Social Policy DivisionSummaryThe federal black lung program (codified at 30 U.S.C. 901 et seq.) providesmedical and income assistance to coal mine workers who suffer disability or death dueto pneumoconiosis and related diseases. One of the goals of the program was to makebenefits more readily available than they might be under state workers compensationlaws. Thus, it uses certain streamlined rules of evidence, but pursuing cases can still berather involved. A trust fund, supported by a tax on coal, was established to finance thebenefits, but the fund has chronically been in deficit. The Treasury Department hasproposed a refinancing that would eventually extinguish the accumulated debt. Thisreport will be updated should significant legislative actions occur. It has long been known that working in coal mines was associated with lungdisorders, but official recognition of a specific disease caused by coal-dust coal workerspneumoconiosis (CWP), now widely known as black