# 117-hr-6791: John White Ensuring Timely Black Lung Benefits Act

117-hr-6791, John White Ensuring Timely Black Lung Benefits Act, is a 117th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Rogers, Harold [R-KY-5] (R-KY); status Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-6791
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 117-hr-6791
- Congress: 117
- Title: John White Ensuring Timely Black Lung Benefits Act
- Status: Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Introduced: 2022-02-18
- Sponsor: Rep. Rogers, Harold [R-KY-5] (R-KY)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Policy area: Labor and Employment
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

John White Ensuring Timely Black Lung Benefits Act This bill requires payment of black lung benefits to eligible individuals within 60 days of their eligibility determination. Black lung disease (or pneumoconiosis) is a lung disease caused by the inhalation of coal dust. Coal miners and certain other workers (and their survivors) are eligible for benefits for disability or death caused by black lung disease arising out of coal mine employment. Generally, operators of underground coal mines are responsible for the payment of black lung benefits for their workers. Under this bill, if operator liability has not been determined within 60 days of a worker's eligibility determination, the Department of Labor must pay the worker's benefits from the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund. (Typically, that fund pays benefits in cases where the responsible operator either no longer exists and has no successor operator or is unable to pay benefits.) Operators that are subsequently found liable for the benefits must reimburse the fund.

## Cosponsors (2)

- Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2] (D-GA), 2022-02-18T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cole, Tom [R-OK-4] (R-OK), 2022-03-28T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 117-hr-1448: PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act
- 117-hr-1193: Cardiovascular Advances in Research and Opportunities Legacy Act
- 117-hr-5142: To award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal, in commemoration to the servicemembers who perished in Afghanistan on August 26, 2021, during the evacuation…
- 117-hr-1057: Greatest Generation Commemorative Coin Act
- 117-hres-881: Condemning the heinous terrorist attack on Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas, on January 15, 2022.
- 117-hr-6015: Benjamin Berell Ferencz Congressional Gold Medal Act

## Sources
- [117-hr-6791 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/6791)

## Related
- [117-hr-1448: PAWS for Veterans Therapy Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-1448)
- [117-hr-1193: Cardiovascular Advances in Research and Opportunities Legacy Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-1193)
- [117-hr-5142: To award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal, in commemoration to the servi…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-5142)
- [117-hr-1057: Greatest Generation Commemorative Coin Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-1057)
- [117-hres-881: Condemning the heinous terrorist attack on Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyvi…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hres-881)
- [117-hr-6015: Benjamin Berell Ferencz Congressional Gold Medal Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-6015)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-6791 (as of 2025-11-18).