Political Quotes

“I rise in strong support of H.R. 2108, the Black Lung Benefits Restoration Act. This legislation eases the requirements necessary to qualify for black lung benefits. It provides relief for dependents and survivors of black lung victims. And most importantly, it provides that disability claimants who are later found to be ineligible for black lung benefits will not be required to pay back any of the benefits they may have already received. Seldom do victims of black lung have the means to put aside benefit payments in the event of a later negative decision in their case. Most who receive these benefit payments find they must use them to pay for daily living expenses, making it impossible to recover these funds. I have heard from several miners and their families in my congressional district of Tennessee who often complain of their financial hardship of trying to repay moneys long ago spent to supplement their daily living while waiting for their claim to be approved. In some cases a levy is placed against a miner's home in an effort to recover payments. Mr. Speaker, I cannot in good conscious ask the coal miners and their families of the Third District of Tennessee to suffer the devastating effects of such actions. Coal miners have given so much for our country. They have worked hard and some have died with such a disability.”