Portman Solution to Miners’ Pensions and Health Care to be Signed Into Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH) today announced that the Senate passed the final FY 2020 funding package, which includes the Bipartisan American Miners Act to help secure pensions and health care for 92,000 coal miners across the United States, and their families. The Bipartisan American Miners Act, which Portman cosponsored, secures lifetime health care benefits for 3,119 miners in Ohio who would have lost their benefits entirely by March, and the nearly 6,000 Ohioans whose pensions would have been reduced dramatically beginning next year. The legislation now heads to the president’s desk for signature.

“Our miners worked hard, played by the rules, and earned these health care and pension benefits, which—without this agreement—would be reduced dramatically or lost altogether,” said Portman. “I’m pleased that the Senate has passed this legislation to give our miners the secure health care and pension benefits they have earned, and peace of mind to their families.  This is a victory for our miners and for Ohio, and I’m proud to have worked to ensure this bipartisan solution gets done.”

“Senator Portman's consistent dedication to securing the pensions and health care of retired miners and their widows was a huge part of our victory,” said Cecil Roberts, President of the United Mine Workers of America. “92,000 current and future retirees, or their widows, will now have the peace of mind that a lifetime of hard work did not go in vain, and that the pensions they earned in sweat and blood will be secure. On their behalf, I sincerely thank Senator Portman for his strong support.”

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