,,ii  #aac? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #adaf  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,july #ca1 #bjac ,mr4  
,rockefell] introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i*
 0 read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee  
on ,heal?1 ,education1 ,labor1 &        
,p5sions  ,a ,,bill  ,to protect m9]s f 
pneumoconiosis 7commonly kn[n z black   
lung disease71 & = o!r purposes4  #a4   
,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z !   
,black ,lung ,heal? ,improvem5ts ,act ( 
#bjac4  #b4 ,te*nology relat$ to        
respirable du/ ,section #bjb7;d7 ( !    
,f$]al ,m9e ,safety & ,heal? ,act (     
#aigg 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #hdb7;d77 is       
am5d$--  7#a7 by /rik+ ( ,heal?1        
,education1 & ,welf>e2 &  7#b7 by /rik+ 
! second s5t5ce & ins]t+ ! foll[+3 ,n   
lat] ?an #f mon?s aft] ! date ( enactm5t
 ( ! ,black ,lung ,heal? ,improvem5ts   
,act ( #bjac1 ! ,secret>y %all issue a  
f9al regulation l[]+ p]missible exposure
 levels to respirable du/ & updat+      
sampl+ & te/+ proc$ures1 9 ord] to      
provide ! maximum feasible protection f 

respirable du/1 includ+ coal & silica   
du/1 t is a*ievable ?r\gh environm5tal &
 eng9e]+ controls4 ,n lat] ?an #e ye>s  
aft] ! date ( issuance ( su* f9al       
regulation1 & once e #e ye>s !reaft]1 ! 
,secret>y %all reexam9e ! incid5ce (    
pneumoconiosis 9 m9]s &1 unless !re is a
 decl9e 9 pneumoconiosis1 %all update ! 
regulation44  #c4 ,black lung m$ical    
reports ,! ,black ,lung ,b5efits ,act   
7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #ija et seq47 is am5d$ by
 ins]t+ aft] section #djb ! foll[+3     
#djc4 ,m$ical reports ,9 any claim =    
b5efits = a m9] "u ?is title1 an op]ator
 t requires a m9] to submit to a m$ical 
exam9ation reg>d+ ! m9]'s respiratory or
 pulmon>y condition %all1 n lat] ?an #ad
 days aft] ! m9] has be5 exam9$1 deliv] 
to ! claimant a complete copy ( ! exam9+
 physician's report4 ,! exam9+          
physician's report %all be 9 writ+ &    
%all set out 9 detail ! exam9]'s f9d+s1 
includ+ any diagnoses & conclusions & ! 
results ( any diagno/ic imag+ te*niques 
& te/s t 7 p]=m$ on ! m9]4  4  #d4 ,,gao

 report on black lung disease  7a7 ,9   
g5]al ,n lat] ?an #a ye> aft] ! date (  
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,comptroll]      
,g5]al ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates %all submit to 
,congress a report on any b>ri]s to     
heal? c>e fac$ by p ) pneumoconiosis4   
7b7 ,cont5ts ,! report requir$ "u       
subsection 7a7 %all include--  7#a7 a   
review ( ! application process1 includ+ 
! appeals process1 ) respect to ! ,black
 ,lung ,disability ,tru/ ,fund e/abli%$ 
by section #ieja ( ! ,int]nal ,rev5ue   
,code ( #aihf2  7#b7 an assessm5t (     
possible b>ri]s to c>e ?r\gh ! ,black   
,lung ,disability ,tru/ ,fund1 & !      
degree to :i* any b>ri]s impact !       
ability ( pati5ts ) legitimate m$ical   
ne$s1 p>ticul>ly ^? pati5ts 9 rural     
areas1 to access treatm5t =             
pneumoconiosis2  7#c7 recomm5dations    
necess>y to address issues1 if any1     
relat+ to pati5t access to c>e ?r\gh !  
,black ,lung ,disability ,tru/ ,fund2 & 
7#d7 an evaluation ( :e!r ! curr5t      
b5efit paym5ts au?oriz$ "u ! ,black     

,lung ,b5efits ,act 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #ija 
et seq47 z ( ! date ( ! report1 are     
suffici5t to meet ! exp5ses ( disabl$   
m9]s & survivors4  #e4 ,review ( black  
lung b5efits program =ms  7a7 ,review ( 
,f$]al ,black lung b5efits program =ms  
,n lat] ?an #f mon?s aft] ! date (      
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y (      
,labor %all conduct a review ( ! =ms    
relat$ to obta9+ work]s' comp5sation    
b5efits "u ! ,black ,lung ,b5efits ,act 
7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #ija et seq47 to det]m9e 
any pap]work b>ri]s t may exi/ to       
spe$ily receiv+ & process+              
pneumoconiosis b5efits claims & !       
feasibility ( r$uc+ ! =ms requir$ (     
applicants to su* program4  7b7 ,report 
to ,congress ,n lat] ?an #a ye> aft] !  
date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !         
,secret>y ( ,labor %all prep>e & submit 
a report to ,congress reg>d+--  7#a7 any
 *anges t ! ,dep>tm5t has implem5t$ to  
r$uce ! =ms & pap]work involv$ 9 receiv+
 & process+ pneumoconiosis claims "u !  
,black ,lung ,b5efits ,act 7#cj         

,u4,s4,c4 #ija et seq472 &  7#b7 any    
adm9i/rative b>ri]s id5tifi$ 9 ! review 
conduct$ "u subsection 7a7 t ! ,dep>tm5t
 ( ,labor has address$4  #f4 ,grant     
funds to /udy ! prev5tion & treatm5t (  
black lung disease ,section #ad7;d7 ( ! 
,m9e ,improvem5t & ,new ,em]g5cy        
,response ,act ( #bjjf 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4   
#ife7;d77 is am5d$--  7#a7 by /rik+ or  
to develop & ins]t+ to develop2 &  7#b7 
by ins]t+ 1 or = rese>* & outrea* relat$
 to ! prev5tion & treatm5t (            
pneumoconiosis be=e ! p]iod at ! end4   
#g4 ,legal fee paym5t program ,! ,black 
,lung ,b5efits ,act 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4 #ija 
et seq47 is am5d$ by ins]t+ aft] section
 #djc1 z add$ by section #c1 ! foll[+3  
#djd4 ,legal fees  7a7 ,program e/abli%$
  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #ahj days   
aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ! ,black ,lung 
,heal? ,improvem5ts ,act ( #bjac1 !     
,secret>y %all e/abli% an attorneys' fee
 paym5t program to pay attorneys' fees1 
us+ am\nts f ! fund1 on behalf (        
claimants 9 qualify+ claims4  7#b7      

,qualify+ claim ,a qualify+ claim =     
purposes ( ?is section is a conte/$     
claim = b5efits "u ?is title = :i* a    
f9al judgm5t has n be5 ent]$ )9 #a ye> (
 ! fil+ ( ! claim4  7#c7 ,use ( paym5ts 
f ! fund ,not)/&+ any o!r provision (   
law1 am\nts 9 ! fund %all be available =
 paym5ts au?oriz$ by ! ,secret>y "u !   
program "u ?is section4  7b7 ,paym5ts   
au?oriz$  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,if a claimant =
 b5efits is a prevail+ p>ty on a        
qualify+ claim be=e an adm9i/rative law 
judge1 ! ,b5efits ,review ,bo>d1 or a   
,f$]al c\rt1 & ! judge1 ,bo>d1 or c\rt  
approves attorneys' fees = "w done be=e 
x1 ! ,secret>y %all1 ?r\gh ! program "u 
?is section1 pay an am\nt ( attorneys'  
fees n to exce$ #a1ejj at ea* /age ( !  
adm9i/rative & legal process4  7#b7     
,maximum ,! program e/abli%$ "u ?is     
section %all n pay m ?an a total (      
#d1ejj 9 attorneys' fees = any s+le     
qualify+ claim4  7c7 ,reimbursem5t (    
funds ,9 any case :]e a qualify+ claim  
results 9 a f9al ord] = comp5sation1 !  

employ] subject to su* claim %all       
reimburse ! fund = any paym5ts made "u  
?is section on behalf ( ! claimant1     
subject to en=cem5t by ! ,secret>y "u   
section #dbd & 9 ! same mann] z         
comp5sation ord]s are en=c$ "u section  
#ba7;d7 ( ! ,long%ore & ,h>bor ,work]s  
,comp5sation ,act 7#cc ,u4,s4,c4        
#iba7;d774  7d7 ,additional rules ,no?+ 
9 ?is section %all limit or o!rwise     
affect an employ]'s liability = any     
attorneys' fees aw>d$ by an adm9i/rative
 law judge1 ! ,b5efits ,review ,bo>d1 or
 a ,f$]al c\rt1 t 7 n paid by ! program 
"u ?is section4 ,no?+ 9 ?is section %all
 limit or o!rwise affect ! ability to   
use am\nts provid$ ?r\gh ! fund to pay  
approv$ attorneys' fees 9 claims =      
b5efits "u ?is title = :i* a f9al       
judgm5t has be5 ord]$1 9 cases :]e !    
employ] is unable to d s4  7e7 ,no      
rec\pm5t ( attorneys' fees ,any paym5t =
 attorneys' fees made by ! ,secret>y "u 
! program "u ?is section %all n be      
rec\p$ f ! claimant or ! claimant's     

attorney4  4  #h4 ,black lung ,b5efits  
,act te*nical & con=m+ am5dm5ts ,!      
,black ,lung ,b5efits ,act 7#cj         
,u4,s4,c4 #ija et seq47 is am5d$--  7#a7
 9 section #dja7;a7 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4      
#ija7;a771 by ins]t+ or :o 7 f\nd to be 
totally disabl$ by su* disease aft] su* 
disease2  7#b7 by /rik+ subsection 7a7 (
 section #daa 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #iba7 &    
ins]t+ ! foll[+3  7a7 ,! ,secret>y %all1
 9 accordance ) ! provisions ( ?is "p1 &
 ! regulations promulgat$ by ! ,secret>y
 "u ?is "p1 make paym5ts ( b5efits 9    
respect (--  7#a7 total disability ( any
 m9] due to pneumoconiosis2  7#b7 ! dea?
 ( any m9] ^: dea? 0 due to             
pneumoconiosis2  7#c7 total disability (
 any m9] at ! "t ( 8 dea? ) respect to  
claims fil$ "u "p ,c prior to ,janu>y   
#a1 #aihb2  7#d7 survivors' b5efits =   
any claim fil$ aft] ,janu>y #a1 #bjje1 t
 is p5d+ on or aft] ,m>* #bc1 #bjaj1 :]e
 ! m9] is f\nd entitl$ to receive       
b5efits at ! "t ( 8 dea? z a result ( a 
lifetime claim fil$ "u "p ,c2 &  7#e7   

survivors' b5efits :]e ! m9] is f\nd    
entitl$ to receive b5efits at ! "t ( 8  
dea? z a result ( a lifetime claim fil$ 
"u "p ,c be=e ,janu>y #a1 #aihb4  2 &   
7#c7 9 section #dab7;a7 7#cj ,u4,s4,c4  
#ibb7;a77--  7,a7 by /rik+ p>agraph 7#b7
 & ins]t+ ! foll[+3  7#b7 ,9 ! case ( a 
wid[--  7,a7 ( a m9] ^: dea? is due to  
pneumoconiosis2  7,b7 9 a claim fil$    
aft] ,janu>y #a1 #bjje1 & t is p5d+ on  
or aft] ,m>* #bc1 #bjaj1 ( a m9] :o is  
f\nd entitl$ to receive b5efits at ! "t 
( ! m9]'s dea? z a result ( a lifetime  
claim fil$ "u "p ,c2  7,c7 ( a m9] :o is
 f\nd entitl$ to receive b5efits at ! "t
 ( 8 dea? z a result ( a lifetime claim 
fil$ "u "p ,c be=e ,janu>y #a1 #aihb2 or
  7,d7 9 a claim fil$ "u "p ,c ( ?is    
sub*apt] be=e ,janu>y #a1 #aihb1 ( a m9]
 :o 0 totally disabl$ by pneumoconiosis 
at ! "t ( 8 dea?1  b5efits %all be paid 
to ! m9]'s wid[ 7if any7 at ! rate !    
deceas$ m9] w\ld receive su* b5efits if 
he 7 totally disabl$4  2  7,b7 9        
p>agraph 7#c7--  7i7 by /rik+ 7#c7 ,9 ! 

case & all t foll[s ?r\gh section       
#daa7;c7 & ins]t+ ! foll[+3 7#c77;,a7 ,9
 ! case ( ! *ild or *ildr5 ( a m9]      
describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,b72 &  7ii7 by 
add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7,b7           
,subp>agraph 7,a7 %all apply 9 ! case ( 
any *ild or *ildr5--  7i7 ( a m9] ^:    
dea? is due to pneumoconiosis2  7ii7 9 a
 claim fil$ aft] ,janu>y #a1 #bjje1 t is
 p5d+ on or aft] ,m>* #bc1 #bjaj1 ( a   
m9] :o is f\nd entitl$ to receive       
b5efits at ! "t ( 8 dea? z a result ( a 
lifetime claim fil$ "u "p ,c2  7iii7 ( a
 m9] :o is f\nd entitl$ to receive      
b5efits at ! "t ( 8 dea? z a result ( a 
lifetime claim fil$ "u "p ,c be=e       
,janu>y #a1 #aihb2  7iv7 9 a claim fil$ 
"u "p ,c be=e ,janu>y #a1 #aihb1 ( a m9]
 :o 0 totally disabl$ by pneumoconiosis 
at ! "t ( 8 dea?2  7v7 ( a wid[ :o is   
f\nd entitl$ to receive b5efits "u ?is  
"p at ! "t ( h] dea?2 or  7vi7 entitl$  
to ! paym5t ( b5efits "u p>agraph 7#e7 (
 section #daa7;c74  2 &  7,c7 9 p>agraph
 7#e71 by /rik+ ,9 ! case & all t foll[s

 ?r\gh n surviv$ at ! "t ( 8 dea? by a  
wid[ or a *ild1 & ins]t+ ,9 ! case ( !  
dep5d5t p>5t or p>5ts ( a m9] :o is n   
surviv$ at ! "t ( ! m9]'s dea? by a wid[
 or a *ild & 7i7 ^: dea? is due to      
pneumoconiosis1 7ii7 9 a claim fil$ aft]
 ,janu>y #a1 #bjje1 t is p5d+ on or aft]
 ,m>* #bc1 #bjaj1 :o is f\nd entitl$ to 
receive b5efits at ! "t ( 8 dea? z a    
result ( a lifetime claim fil$ "u "p ,c1
 7iii7 :o is f\nd entitl$ to receive    
b5efits at ! "t ( 8 dea? z a result ( a 
lifetime claim fil$ "u "p ,c be=e       
,janu>y #a1 #aihb1 or 7iv7 9 a claim    
fil$ "u "p ,c be=e ,janu>y #a1 #aihb1 :o
 0 totally disabl$ by pneumoconiosis at 
! "t ( dea?14