# 117-hr-6102: Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act of 2022

117-hr-6102, Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act of 2022, is a 117th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Cartwright, Matt [D-PA-8] (D-PA); status Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 483. (as of 2025-11-18).

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## Facts
- Bill: 117-hr-6102
- Congress: 117
- Title: Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act of 2022
- Status: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 483.
- Introduced: 2021-12-01
- Sponsor: Rep. Cartwright, Matt [D-PA-8] (D-PA)
- Cosponsors: 13
- Policy area: Labor and Employment
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

Black Lung Benefits Improvement Act of 2021 This bill revises requirements for miners' claims for pneumoconiosis (black lung disease) benefits. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Labor to pay the attorneys' fees of specified parties on a qualifying benefit claim, give a claimant the opportunity to substantiate a claim for benefits through a pulmonary evaluation, authorize a CT (computerized tomography) scan in diagnosing complicated pneumoconiosis, educate certain individuals who work on black lung benefits about medical evidence relevant to claims, establish criteria that a mining operator must meet to self-insure against claims, and develop a strategy to reduce delays in adjudication of black lung disease benefits claims. The bill also requires the Government Accountability Office to report on barriers to health care faced by coal miners with black lung disease. The bill authorizes (1) black lung disease clinics to use federal funds to help individuals file claims, and (2) certain previously denied claimants to file a new claim for black lung disease benefits within one year. The bill prohibits a person from (1) knowingly and willfully making a false statement or misrepresentation in increasing or reducing black lung disease benefits, or (2) threatening or misleading a participant in a proceeding regarding such benefits. Further, the bill revises (1) the standards of medical evidence that establish a presumption that a miner is totally disabled by black lung disease, and (2) payments to such miners. Lastly, the bill provides statutory authority for the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs.

## Cosponsors (13)

- Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3] (D-VA), 2021-12-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7] (D-IN), 2021-12-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12] (D-NC), 2022-03-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7] (D-MD), 2022-03-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bowman, Jamaal [D-NY-16] (D-NY), 2022-03-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sherrill, Mikie [D-NJ-11] (D-NJ), 2022-03-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24] (D-FL), 2022-03-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10] (D-CA), 2022-03-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Levin, Andy [D-MI-9] (D-MI), 2022-03-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1] (D-OR), 2022-04-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39] (D-CA), 2022-04-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1] (D-NJ), 2022-04-04T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8] (D-MA), 2022-07-28T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 117-hr-8404: Respect for Marriage Act
- 117-hr-1842: Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act
- 117-hres-891: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the article of amendment (commonly known as the "Equal Rights Amendment") to the Constitution is vali…
- 117-hr-6015: Benjamin Berell Ferencz Congressional Gold Medal Act
- 117-hr-5577: To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3900 Crown Road Southwest in Atlanta, Georgia, as the "John R. Lewis Post Office Build…
- 117-hr-4: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021

## Sources
- [117-hr-6102 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/6102)

## Related
- [117-hr-8404: Respect for Marriage Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-8404)
- [117-hr-1842: Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-1842)
- [117-hres-891: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the article of amendm…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hres-891)
- [117-hr-6015: Benjamin Berell Ferencz Congressional Gold Medal Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-6015)
- [117-hr-5577: To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3900 C…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-5577)
- [117-hr-4: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-4)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-6102 (as of 2025-11-18).