Published: December 8, 2016 |

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Retired coal miners and their families, who were hoping for a guarantee on their pensions and health care benefits, get little help in the final version of the must-pass spending bill Congress is considering this week.

The Miners Protection Act, which would have ensured that the retired miners receive more than $250 million a year in benefits at risk amid the coal industry’s steep decline and bankruptcies of several large companies, was pulled from the continuing resolution spending package designed to keep the government operating for the next four months.

The spending bill includes only $45 million to temporarily protect health care benefits for about 16,500 retired coal miners, mostly in Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania, which are set to expire at the end of the year. The deal, led by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., only lasts until April, when the bill expires, and does not protect pension benefits that also are at risk.

The legislation championed by West Virginia Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito would have protected retirement and health care benefits for about 120,000 retired coal miners and their families. Some of the funds could run out of cash by next year, according to the United Mine Workers of America.

McConnell and other GOP leaders are wary of bailing out unionized workers. Republicans also say the bill could pressure Congress to offer similar help to other cash-strapped pension funds.

Manchin vowed to keep fighting for the Miners Protection Act.

“The proposed four-month fix leaves these miners worse off, and I will not let Congress adjourn until we do what is right,” he said.

The House is scheduled to vote on the spending bill on Thursday; the Senate by week’s end. The legislation would keep the government operating beyond Friday’s deadline through April 28.

Source: (December 8, 2016) The Asscociated Press

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