WASHINGTON, DC -- Rep. George Miller (CA), Rep. Nick Rahall (WV), Sen. Edward Kennedy (MA), Sen. Patty Murray (WA) and Rep. Lynn Woolsey (CA) today announced a new package of legislation to help improve health and safety in U.S. mines.

The legislation would improve mine emergency response plans, strengthen the ability of the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration to enforce health and safety regulations, strengthen rescue, recovery and accident investigation practices, and update the 35-year old standard that is not effectively preventing today’s miners from developing black lung disease.

The initiative builds upon legislation passed by Congress one year ago, the MINER Act, which responded to the immediate concerns of mine safety and emergency preparedness after a deadly 2006 in which 47 miners’ lives were lost, making it the most dangerous year for coal miners in a decade.

“The MINER Act was an important first step towards fixing years of backsliding and complacency when it comes to the health and safety of miners,” said Miller, the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee.  “While important progress has been made, we now have clear evidence that more can and must be done.  Enactment of this legislation is essential if we are to ensure that our miners and their families no longer have to fear for their lives or those of their loved ones in producing the coal this nation needs.”

“I am pleased to join my colleague, George Miller, in keeping the health and safety needs of our coal miners at the forefront of our nation’s conscience,” said Rahall, the chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee.  “The mine tragedies of last year are the result of a government and a nation that let down its guard.  That should never have happened.  The provisions in this new legislative package build upon the solid groundwork provided by the MINER Act and could result in life-saving advances for years to come.”

Kennedy, one of the key authors of the MINER Act, said: “The MINER Act was a key step forward, but there is still much to be done to safeguard the health and safety of our nation’s miners. We must build upon the advances we have already made and eliminate the many hazards these workers face every day. America’s miners and their families deserve no less.”

“Our nation has a responsibility to ensure that hard working Americans are given the workplace safety protections that they deserve, and we are particularly lacking when it comes to miners,” said Woolsey, the chair of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.  “While we may never remove all of the risks that these men and women face, there are new technologies and safety steps that can be used to better protect them.  We owe it to them and their families to insist that every effort to minimize their risks are immediately taken.”

“With the MINER Act, Congress gave the Bush Administration the tools to keep America's miners safe. Unfortunately, the Bush Administration has done too little and moved too slowly,” said Murray. “We are unwilling to let the situation continue. We're going to hold MSHA and mine owners accountable, and we are not stopping with the MINER Act. That's why we are moving forward with new legislation to further improve mine safety with advances like proximity detectors, improved record keeping, and updated asbestos standards for mines.”

The legislation introduced in the House and Senate would establish an independent ombudsman to ensure proper attention to miner complaints of unsafe conditions and to protect whistleblowers from retaliation.  Coal miners and family members who lost loved ones in mining accidents testified before the committee in March that they faced blacklisting or retaliation if they spoke up about unsafe working conditions.

In addition, the bills would:

 

* Require underground mines to move quickly to install proven technologies to help prevent emergencies and protect miners’ lives if accidents occur;

* Prevent witness coercion and conflict of interests during accident investigations;

* Allow supplemental investigations by the independent Chemical Safety Board if requested by representatives of miners or families;

* Enhance penalties not adjusted by MINER Act;

* Ban the practice of ventilating mines with intake air run over conveyor belts; and Update the 40-year-old exposure limits for hundreds of toxic substances and set improved requirements to protect miners from asbestos exposure.