On the recordMay 3, 2017
I wholly share Senator Manchin's understanding of this key provision of the legislation. By adopting the language from the Miners Protection Act that is included in the Omnibus appropriations bill, we intended to cover any miners, survivors, and dependents who would have received or continued to receive Federal retiree healthcare benefits from one of these bankrupt employers had it not gone through the bankruptcy process, without regard to the 1993 plan's usual eligibility rules. I understand that these individuals are eligible under the rules as applied by the Patriot VEBA, and I expect that these rules will continue to be applied in the same manner by the 1993 plan.
