# 119-s-5391: Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety Protection Act of 2026

119-s-5391, Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety Protection Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA] (D-VA); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-09).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5391
- As of: 2026-10-09
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-5391
- Congress: 119
- Title: Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety Protection Act of 2026
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-09-14
- Sponsor: Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA] (D-VA)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Labor and Employment
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-09

## Summary

**This bill would tighten mine safety by creating an independent accident-investigation panel and by imposing **stronger enforcement and bigger penalties** to prevent future deaths and hazards.** - Miners and families would get faster, clearer protections. The bill expands whistleblower and retaliation protections, creates expedited reinstatement and damages remedies, requires annual refresher training of at least 9 hours, and guarantees pay for miners idled by withdrawal orders subject to a 60-day cap. - Mine operators would face tougher penalties and new liability. The bill adds targeted civil fines up to $220,000 for key safety breaches, doubles penalties for pattern-of-violations mines, and creates criminal fines and prison terms that can reach $1 million for severe or repeat violations. - Federal investigators and safety agencies would gain new tools and duties. A five-member Independent Accident Investigation Panel would be triggered for accidents with 3 or more deaths, the Panel would have subpoena and contempt powers, NIOSH would staff it, and agencies must coordinate under a 90-day memorandum and meet multiple interim rule deadlines.

## Provisions PRIA read

- Expanded worker protections and pay: benefit, high. If enacted, the bill would greatly expand anti-retaliation protections and speed investigations. You would have 180 days to file a retaliation complaint and the Secretary would start investigating within 15 days. The Commission could order immediate reinstatement on an expedited showing. Hourly min…
- Independent accident reviews and oversight: benefit, medium. If enacted, the bill would create a five-member Independent Accident Investigation Panel for severe mine accidents (three or more deaths) or other major incidents HHS selects. NIOSH would chair and staff the Panel, which could subpoena witnesses, hold public hearings, and publish reports. The Secre…
- New criminal penalties for operators: cost, medium. If enacted, the bill would add and raise criminal penalties for operators and corporate officers who knowingly or recklessly break mandatory safety rules, including fines and prison time (examples include up to $250,000 and/or 1 year for baseline knowing violations and much larger fines and longer…
- Higher penalties and faster collections: cost, medium. If enacted, the bill would make penalty reviews follow the Secretary's penalty method unless extraordinary circumstances exist, making lower adjustments harder. Interest on contested civil penalties would begin on the contest date at the Treasury underpayment rate compounded daily and, after a fina…
- New training, certification, and records: mixed, high. If enacted, the bill would require new federal certification rules for mine personnel within one year and let states with equal programs satisfy the requirement. Operators would have to pay fees to fund certification starting 180 days after enactment, as the Secretary sets the fee amounts. All mine…
- Tougher safety rules for mines: mixed, high. If enacted, the bill would require underground coal mines to install real-time atmospheric monitors within one year that measure methane, oxygen, and carbon monoxide, record data, and alert in real time. Rock-dust incombustible content would rise to 80 percent, with an added 0.4 percentage points f…

## Related bills

- 119-s-2120: Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025
- 119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act
- 119-s-5283: Momnibus Act
- 119-s-4504: Full-Service Community School Expansion Act of 2026
- 119-s-2763: Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act
- 119-s-3869: Healthy Families Act

## Sources
- [119-s-5391 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/5391)

## Related
- [119-s-2120: Older Americans Act Reauthorization Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2120)
- [119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2819)
- [119-s-5283: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5283)
- [119-s-4504: Full-Service Community School Expansion Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4504)
- [119-s-2763: Keep Billionaires Out of Social Security Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2763)
- [119-s-3869: Healthy Families Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3869)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5391 (as of 2026-10-09).