October 28, 2024 - We’re making our way through another election season, which means politicians all across West Virginia and the country are singing their praises for coal yet again. We’ve all heard this many times before, but it usually doesn’t turn into any meaningful change for our communities. Usually, the campaign trail praise for coal turns into support for coal companies and CEOs, but not the actual people that are doing the work in the mines. For those of us who spent our careers as miners, we’re not surprised — but we are fighting, and trying to make sure that the rush to praise coal turns into work to protect coal miners. That’s because we know the struggles miners face every day, and we need to get our politicians to do something about it.

Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., has been a champion for coal miners, especially those of us with black lung. He secured a permanent extension of funding for the black lung disability trust fund that ensures there will always be some safety net for miners with black lung and their families. When we’ve needed to count on him, he’s stepped up. And we’re sad to see him step away from the Senate this year, because there is so much more work to do.

Now, we’re looking for a new champion in Congress to fight alongside us. The timing couldn’t be more important. Black lung hasn’t gone away — it’s getting worse. Younger miners are getting sicker than ever before with black lung, robbed of their health and their employment at a time when their families are relying on them for support. It’s a terrible situation. Young people with just four or five years in the mines are receiving deadly diagnoses at a time when they can’t afford to stop working, let alone get long-term medical care in a hospital.

U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., delivers remarks at the 2024 West Virginia Broadband Summit in Charleston, W.Va. on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024.

Capito Press photo

Benefits for miners with black lung are a help — but they only go so far. In fact, because black lung benefit adjustments are not tied to the rate of inflation, this crucial safety net for miners doesn’t cover enough ground. In many coal communities in West Virginia, black lung benefits are thousands of dollars short of the cost of living every month. It’s hard enough to navigate the bureaucracy to qualify for these benefits, but once a miner gets them, it’s not nearly enough to take care of themselves or their family. They are forced to choose between paying for their house, transportation, utilities, and food.

Congress can change all that with a simple fix that connects black lung benefit rates to the actual cost of living. It should be common sense. The appropriations process for fiscal year 2025 is the ideal opportunity to do just that — but we need a leader to take charge and make it happen, especially in this time of transition for Manchin. 

It would be a great shame for West Virginia to have no champions for miners in Congress, but Sen. Shelley Moore Capito has a career-defining opportunity to be the voice in Washington that we need. The Black Lung Association and miners across the state and country are hoping that she will step up and fight for those of us who are struggling with the high cost of living and the dangers of our work. We urge her to attend one of our Black Lung Association meetings, hear from miners about what they need, and take action in Congress.

They say coal keeps the lights on — but it’s really the coal miners that have helped power this country for generations. Praising coal in TV ads and on the campaign trail is all well and good — but the people of this state want leaders who will walk the walk, instead of just talking the talk. We’ve been fighting for years for a better future for miners, and we will keep fighting. We hope Sen. Capito will stand by our side.