Skip to main content
S 1217 99th Congress Senate

A bill to require the Department of Labor to employ additional administrative law judges to hear cases under the Black Lung Benefits Act.

Introduced: May 23, 1985 See on congress.gov
Labor and Employment Administrative law judgesAdministrative procedureBlack lungClaims
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Department of LaborHealthLung diseasesMines and mineral resourcesOccupational health and safety
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
This bill died when the 99th Congress ended
It never became law before the 99th Congress (1985–1986) 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 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 4, 1985
Referred to Subcommittee on Labor.
Jun 4, 1985
Committee on Labor and Human Resources requested executive comment from Labor Department, Justice Department.
May 23, 1985
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources.
May 23, 1985
Introduced in Senate
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Latest action June 4, 1985

Committee on Labor and Human Resources requested executive comment from Labor Department, Justice Department.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Amends the Black Lung Benefits Act to direct the Secretary of Labor to reduce, within two years after enactment of this Act, the number of cases pending and awaiting review by: (1) administrative law judges to not more than 6,000; and (2) the Benefits Review Board to not more than 800.

Allows such reduction to be accomplished by employing or obtaining the services of additional administrative judges and using other measures.

Directs the Secretary to notify the Congress of the measures being taken to comply with this Act within 30 days after its enactment.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 1222 Identical bill A bill to require the Department of Labor to employ additional administrative law judges to hear cases under the Black …
 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Republican 2
R
Grassley, Chuck
Iowa · May 23, 1985
 R
McConnell, Mitch
Kentucky · May 23, 1985
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1217: A bill to require the Department of Labor to employ additional administrative law judges to hear cases under the Black Lung Benefits Act.. 99th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/99-S-1217/
MLA
"S. 1217: A bill to require the Department of Labor to employ additional administrative law judges to hear cases under the Black Lung Benefits Act.." 99th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/99-S-1217/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1217, 99th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/99-S-1217/.
Markdown link
[S. 1217: A bill to require the Department of Labor to employ additional administrative law judges to hear cases under the Black Lung Benefits Act.](https://openamerica.io/bill/99-S-1217/)
Report a problem