# 114-hr-3625: Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act of 2015

114-hr-3625, Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act of 2015, is a 114th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Cartwright, Matt [D-PA-8] (D-PA); status Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-3625
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 114-hr-3625
- Congress: 114
- Title: Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act of 2015
- Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.
- Introduced: 2015-09-28
- Sponsor: Rep. Cartwright, Matt [D-PA-8] (D-PA)
- Cosponsors: 3
- Policy area: Labor and Employment
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act of 2015 This bill amends the Black Lung Benefits Act to revise requirements for miners' claims for pneumoconiosis (black lung) benefits. A mine operator must give a copy of the examining physician's report to miners required to have a medical examination of their respiratory condition. The Department of Labor must pay the attorneys' fees of prevailing parties on a qualifying black lung benefit claim. This bill revises: (1) the standards of medical evidence that establish a presumption that a miner is totally disabled by black lung, and (2) payments to miners (including their dependents) totally disabled by black lung. Black lung clinics may use federal funds to help individuals file black lung benefit claims. A person may not: (1) make a false statement or misrepresentation in increasing or reducing black lung benefits, or (2) threaten or mislead a participant in a proceeding regarding black lung benefits. Labor, upon request, must give a claimant the opportunity to substantiate a claim for benefits through a pulmonary evaluation of the miner. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) must establish a pilot program to assure accurate classifications of chest radiographs in black lung cases where the diagnosis is at issue. Labor, in coordination with NIOSH, must educate certain individuals who work on black lung benefits about medical evidence relevant to claims. A previously denied claimant may file a claim for black lung benefits within one year after enactment of this Act. Labor must report to Congress a strategy to reduce the backlog of black lung cases pending before the Office of Administrative Law Judges. The Government Accountability Office must report on any barriers to health care faced by coal miners with black lung. The bill amends the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 to direct Labor to use data from continuous personal dust monitors to determine whether to make changes to respirable dust concentration standards, controls, and measurements. Establishment of the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs is codified.

## Cosponsors (3)

- Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3] (D-VA), 2015-09-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24] (D-FL), 2015-09-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2] (D-CT), 2015-10-23T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 114-hr-5844: ACTION for National Service Act
- 114-hr-5292: Air Traffic Controller Hiring Improvement Act of 2016
- 114-hr-5044: Making supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2016 to respond to Zika virus.
- 114-hr-4592: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act
- 114-hr-4479: Families of Flint Act
- 114-hr-4269: Assault Weapons Ban of 2015

## Sources
- [114-hr-3625 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/3625)

## Related
- [114-hr-5844: ACTION for National Service Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-5844)
- [114-hr-5292: Air Traffic Controller Hiring Improvement Act of 2016](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-5292)
- [114-hr-5044: Making supplemental appropriations for fiscal year 2016 to respond to Zika viru…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-5044)
- [114-hr-4592: Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-4592)
- [114-hr-4479: Families of Flint Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-4479)
- [114-hr-4269: Assault Weapons Ban of 2015](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-4269)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/114-hr-3625 (as of 2025-11-18).