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Miners Protection Act of 2017

Introduced: January 17, 2017 See on congress.gov
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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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 17, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S343)
Jan 17, 2017
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Miners Protection 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 and the 1974 United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) Pension Plan to provide health and pension 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.

Treasury must also transfer additional funds to the 1974 UMWA Pension Plan to pay pension benefits required under that plan if the amounts available for transfer under SMCRA's $490 million annual limit exceed the amounts required to be transferred for other purposes (including to the UMWA Health Plans).

The bill also: (1) prohibits the pension plan from making certain changes to benefits during any year in which a transfer is received, and (2) establishes additional reporting requirements for the plan.

The bill repeals requirements for current and former signatories to labor agreements with the UMWA to pay unassigned beneficiaries premiums or backstop premiums if transfers under SMCRA are less than the amount required to be transferred.

As an offset, the bill amends the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 to extend the authority of Treasury to collect certain customs user fees.

What's happening now January 17, 2017

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S343)

 Related & companion bills 5
  • S 1105 Related bill Miners Pension Protection Act
  • HR 3913 Related bill American Miners Pension Act of 2017
  • S 1911 Related bill American Miners Pension Act of 2017
  • HR 4426 Related bill Sustainable Energy Development Reform Act
  • HR 179 Related bill Miners Protection Act of 2017
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 15
All 15 Democratic 9 Republican 5 Independent 1
R
Cotton, Tom
Arkansas · Apr 3, 2017
 D
Duckworth, Tammy
Illinois · Mar 28, 2017
 R
Risch, James E.
Idaho · Mar 27, 2017
 D
Warren, Elizabeth
Massachusetts · Mar 8, 2017
 R
Murkowski, Lisa
Alaska · Feb 1, 2017
 D
Whitehouse, Sheldon
Rhode Island · Jan 23, 2017
 D
Booker, Cory A.
New Jersey · Jan 17, 2017
 R
Capito, Shelley Moore
West Virginia · Jan 17, 2017
 D
Durbin, Richard J.
Illinois · Jan 17, 2017
 D
Heinrich, Martin
New Mexico · Jan 17, 2017
 D
Kaine, Tim
Virginia · Jan 17, 2017
 D
Murray, Patty
Washington · Jan 17, 2017
 I
Sanders, Bernard
Vermont · Jan 17, 2017
 R
Sullivan, Dan
Alaska · Jan 17, 2017
 D
Warner, Mark R.
Virginia · Jan 17, 2017
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 175: Miners Protection Act of 2017. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-175/
MLA
"S. 175: Miners Protection Act of 2017." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-175/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 175, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-175/.
Markdown link
[S. 175: Miners Protection Act of 2017](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-S-175/)
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