UPDATE: Miners’ pensions, health benefits preserved by Senate vote

“Congress came together, Democrats and Republicans, to secure health care and pensions for our nation’s coal miners.”

West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin applauding fellow lawmakers of approval of the American Miners Act.

The legislation was included in a year-end spending bill and preserves pensions for 92,000 retired miners and health benefits secured in other legislative action in 2017. United Mine Workers of America president Cecil Roberts said receiving the support of Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky was the key to getting the bills passed.

(PHOTO: UMWA)