Yearly Archives: 2019

Congress established the Black Lung trust fund in 1978. The tax rate used to fund it expired on Dec. 31, 2018, and has since been cut in half, leaving many beneficiaries uncertain of what will happen next. Below are links to articles regarding the current state of federal Black Lung funding. AP News Break: Congress’ Inaction Endangers Black Lung Fund NY Times: With Black Lung Fund in Jeopardy, Taxpayers Could Fit the Bill KHN: Expected Shortfalls For Black Lung Fund Will Be Covered By Taxpayers Instead Of Coal Companies

“In an investigatory piece conducted jointly with the PBS investigative series Frontline, NPR (1/22, Berkes) reports, “Thousands of coal miners are dying from an advanced form of black lung disease, and federal regulators could have prevented it if they had paid closer attention to their own data.”

On January 9, 2019 the Mine Safety & Health Administration of the Department of Labor reported that 2018 was the second lowest year on record for U.S. mining fatalities. Click here to be directed to the News Release.

Click here for an NPR report on the state of the federal Black Lung Disability Trust Fund. As of today, January 22, there have yet to be any updates.

NPR will speak more about their co-investigation with Frontline during their 3 pm (central) broadcast of “All Things Considered”. Here is a link to the continuation of their investigation and what its impact may be. NPR reports that due to Tonight, Frontline will also premier the documentary Coal’s Deadly Dust which will air on PBS January 22, 2019. Click here to be linked to the trailer, featuring our very own Dr. Robert Cohen.

Frontline is doing a special on black lung featuring our very own Dr. Robert Cohen! The episode will air on January 22, 2018. Click here to view the trailer and check for your local listing.