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HR 1613 115th Congress House

HELP for Coal Miners Health Care Act of 2017

Official title: To amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to transfer certain funds to the Multiemployer Health Benefit Plan, and for other purposes.

Introduced: March 27, 2017 See on congress.gov
Labor and Employment Administrative law and regulatory proceduresCoalCongressional oversightEmployee benefits and pensions
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Government studies and investigationsHealth care costs and insuranceMining
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This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 27, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.
Mar 17, 2017
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Mar 17, 2017
Introduced in House
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 Latest action March 27, 2017

Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Helping Ensure Long-Term Protection for Coal Miners Health Care Act of 2017 or the HELP for Coal Miners Health Care Act of 2017

This bill amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) to transfer certain funds to the Multiemployer Health Benefit Plan to provide health benefits to retired coal miners and their families.

The bill expands the group whose retiree health benefits are taken into account in determining the amount that the Department of the Treasury must transfer from the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund and the General Fund of the Treasury to the Multiemployer Health Benefit Plan.

The Government Accountability Office must study the Multiemployer Health Benefit Plan and submit to Congress reports analyzing whether federal funds are being spent appropriately by the plan.

The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to repeal requirements for current and former signatories to labor agreements with the United Mineworkers of America to pay unassigned beneficiaries premiums or backstop premiums if transfers under SMCRA are less than the amount required to be transferred.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 176 Related bill HELP for Coal Miners Health Care Act of 2017
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
 Cosponsors 3
All 3 Democratic 1 Republican 1
SHIMKUS, JOHN
· Apr 6, 2017
 R
Comer, James
Kentucky · Mar 27, 2017
 D
Welch, Peter
Vermont · Mar 17, 2017
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1613: HELP for Coal Miners Health Care Act of 2017. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-1613/
MLA
"H.R. 1613: HELP for Coal Miners Health Care Act of 2017." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-1613/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1613, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-1613/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1613: HELP for Coal Miners Health Care Act of 2017](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-1613/)
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