Sens. Jay Rockefeller and Bob Casey are unveiling legislation
aimed at ensuring fairer treatment for coal miners with black lung disease as
they pursue benefits claims.
The bill by the two coal-state senators Thursday comes after an
investigation examined how doctors and lawyers, working at the behest of the
coal industry, helped defeat the benefits claims of sick miners. The
investigation was done by the Center for Public Integrity and ABC News.
Among other things, the bill requires parties in a case to
disclose all medical evidence, and strengthens criminal penalties for making
false statements in the claims process.
Black lung is an irreversible and potentially deadly disease
caused by exposure to coal dust, where the dust particles accumulate in the
lungs.
