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HR 2627 113th Congress House Energy Bankruptcy Coal Employee benefits and pensions Government trust funds Health care costs and insurance Health care coverage and access Mining

Caring for Coal Miners Act

Introduced: July 8, 2013 See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 10, 2013
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
Jul 8, 2013
Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Jul 8, 2013
Introduced in House
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Caring for Coal Miners Act - Amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to revise the formula for determining transfers from the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund to the Multiemployer Health Benefit Plan.

Requires the formula to be calculated by taking into account only: (1) those beneficiaries actually enrolled in the Plan as of the enactment of this Act (currently, enrolled as of December 31, 2006), who are eligible to receive health benefits on the first day of the calendar year for which the transfer is made; and in addition to these beneficiaries (2) those who would be denied health benefits payable directly by an employer in the bituminous coal industry under a coal wage agreement as a result of a bankruptcy proceeding commenced in 2012.

Considers the latter beneficiaries to be eligible to receive such health benefits under the Plan.

Requires reduction of the amount made available to a beneficiary as a result of this Act, however, by the amount of any benefits actually paid by a Voluntary Employees' Beneficiary Association (VEBA) to or on behalf of a covered beneficiary, so that no covered beneficiary receives a greater benefit than would have been payable before the VEBA was established.

Defines "Voluntary Employees' Beneficiary Association" as one established pursuant to the order entered May 29, 2013, by the Court in the case In re: Patriot Coal Corporation (Case No. 12-51502, Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Missouri).

What's happening now July 10, 2013

Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2