Title 30Mineral Lands and MiningRelease 119-73

§901 Congressional findings and declaration of purpose; short title

Title 30 › Chapter CHAPTER 22— - MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER IV— - BLACK LUNG BENEFITS › Part Part A— - General Provisions › § 901

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Provides benefits, with help from the States, to coal miners who are totally disabled by pneumoconiosis (black lung) and to the surviving dependents of miners who died from it. The law is called the "Black Lung Benefits Act."

Full Legal Text

Title 30, §901

Mineral Lands and Mining — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Congress finds and declares that there are a significant number of coal miners living today who are totally disabled due to pneumoconiosis arising out of employment in one or more of the Nation’s coal mines; that there are a number of survivors of coal miners whose deaths were due to this disease; and that few States provide benefits for death or disability due to this disease to coal miners or their surviving dependents. It is, therefore, the purpose of this subchapter to provide benefits, in cooperation with the States, to coal miners who are totally disabled due to pneumoconiosis and to the surviving dependents of miners whose death was due to such disease; and to ensure that in the future adequate benefits are provided to coal miners and their dependents in the event of their death or total disability due to pneumoconiosis.
(b)This subchapter may be cited as the “Black Lung Benefits Act”.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1981—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–119 struck out “or who were totally disabled by this disease at the time of their deaths” after “due to this disease” and “due to such disease”. 1978—Pub. L. 95–239 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b). 1972—Pub. L. 92–303, § 3(a), inserted “or who were totally disabled by this disease at the time of their deaths” after “disease” the first and third times it appeared and struck out “underground” before “coal mines”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1981 Amendment Pub. L. 97–119, title II, § 206(a), Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat. 1645, provided that: “Except as otherwise provided, the provisions of this title [see

Short Title

of 1981 Amendment note set out under section 801 of this title] shall take effect on January 1, 1982.”

Effective Date

of 1978 Amendment Pub. L. 95–239, § 20(a), Mar. 1, 1978, 92 Stat. 106, provided that: “The provisions of this Act [see

Short Title

of 1978 Amendment note set out under section 801 of this title] shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act [Mar. 1, 1978].”

Effective Date

of 1972 Amendment Pub. L. 92–303, § 3(c), May 19, 1972, 86 Stat. 153, provided that: “The

Amendments

made by this section [amending this section and section 902, 921, 932, and 933 of this title] shall be effective as of December 30, 1969.” Amendment by section 4(b)(2) of Pub. L. 92–303 effective Dec. 30, 1969, see section 4(g) of Pub. L. 92–303, set out as a note under section 921 of this title.

Effective Date

Subchapter effective Dec. 30, 1969, see section 509 of Pub. L. 91–173, set out as a note under section 801 of this title. Separability Pub. L. 97–119, title II, § 206(b), Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat. 1645, provided that: “If any provision of this title [see

Short Title

of 1981 Amendment note, set out under section 801 of this title], or the application of such provision to any person or circumstance, shall be held invalid, the remainder of this title, or the application of such provision to persons or circumstances other than those to which it is held invalid, shall not be affected thereby.” Special Benefits for Disabled Coal Miners Pub. L. 102–394, title II, Oct. 6, 1992, 106 Stat. 1806, provided that: “For carrying out title IV of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 [30 U.S.C. 901 et seq.], including for fiscal year 1993 and thereafter the payment of travel expenses on an actual cost or commuted basis, to an individual, for travel incident to medical examinations, and when travel of more than 75 miles is required, to parties, their representatives, and all reasonably necessary witnesses for travel within the United States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, to reconsideration interviews and to proceedings before administrative law judges, $601,313,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That monthly benefit payments for fiscal year 1993 and thereafter shall be paid consistent with section 215(g) of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 415(g)].” Study of Current Medical Methods for Diagnosis of Pneumoconiosis and Nature and Extent of Impairment Attributable to Simple and Complicated Pneumoconiosis; Report to Congress Pub. L. 97–119, title II, § 202(e), Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat. 1643, directed Secretary of Labor, in consultation with Secretary of Health and Human Services, to undertake a study of current medical methods for diagnosis of pneumoconiosis, and of nature and extent of impairment and disability that are attributable to the existence of both simple and complicated pneumoconiosis, with study, together with appropriate recommendations, to be transmitted to Congress no later than eighteen months after Jan. 1, 1982. Study of Benefits Under This Subchapter, Other Benefits Received, and Benefits if State Workers’ Compensation Programs Applicable; Report to Congress Pub. L. 97–119, title II, § 203(c), Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat. 1644, directed Secretary of Labor to undertake a study of the benefits provided by this subchapter, other benefits received by individuals who receive benefits under this subchapter, and benefits which would be received were State workers’ compensation programs applicable in lieu of benefits under this subchapter, with study, together with appropriate recommendations, to be transmitted to Congress no later than eighteen months after Jan. 1, 1982.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

30 U.S.C. § 901

Title 30Mineral Lands and Mining

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73