
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 30USC901]

 
                   TITLE 30--MINERAL LANDS AND MINING
 
                   CHAPTER 22--MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH
 
                   SUBCHAPTER IV--BLACK LUNG BENEFITS
 
                       Part A--General Provisions
 
Sec. 901. Congressional findings and declaration of purpose; 
        short title
        
    (a) Congress finds and declares that there are a significant number 
of coal miners living today who are totally disabled due to 
pneumoconiosis arising out of employment in one or more of the Nation's 
coal mines; that there are a number of survivors of coal miners whose 
deaths were due to this disease; and that few States provide benefits 
for death or disability due to this disease to coal miners or their 
surviving dependents. It is, therefore, the purpose of this subchapter 
to provide benefits, in cooperation with the States, to coal miners who 
are totally disabled due to pneumoconiosis and to the surviving 
dependents of miners whose death was due to such disease; and to ensure 
that in the future adequate benefits are provided to coal miners and 
their dependents in the event of their death or total disability due to 
pneumoconiosis.
    (b) This subchapter may be cited as the ``Black Lung Benefits Act''.

(Pub. L. 91-173, title IV, Sec. 401, Dec. 30, 1969, 83 Stat. 792; Pub. 
L. 92-303, Secs. 3(a), 4(b)(2), May 19, 1972, 86 Stat. 153, 154; Pub. L. 
95-239, Sec. 16, Mar. 1, 1978, 92 Stat. 105; Pub. L. 97-119, title II, 
Sec. 203(a)(4), Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat. 1644.)


                               Amendments

    1981--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97-119 struck out ``or who were totally 
disabled by this disease at the time of their deaths'' after ``due to 
this disease'' and ``due to such disease''.
    1978--Pub. L. 95-239 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) 
and added subsec. (b).
    1972--Pub. L. 92-303, Sec. 3(a), inserted ``or who were totally 
disabled by this disease at the time of their deaths'' after ``disease'' 
the first and third times it appeared and struck out ``underground'' 
before ``coal mines''.


                    Effective Date of 1981 Amendment

    Section 206(a) of title II of Pub. L. 97-119 provided that: ``Except 
as otherwise provided, the provisions of this title [see Short Title of 
1981 Amendment note set out under section 801 of this title] shall take 
effect on January 1, 1982.''


                    Effective Date of 1978 Amendment

    Section 20(a) of Pub. L. 95-239 provided that: ``The provisions of 
this Act [see Short Title of 1978 Amendment note set out under section 
801 of this title] shall take effect on the date of enactment of this 
Act [Mar. 1, 1978].''


                    Effective Date of 1972 Amendment

    Section 3(c) of Pub. L. 92-303 provided that: ``The amendments made 
by this section [amending this section and sections 902, 921, 932, and 
933 of this title] shall be effective as of December 30, 1969.''
    Amendment by section 4(b)(2) of Pub. L. 92-303 effective Dec. 30, 
1969, see section 4(g) of Pub. L. 92-303, set out as a note under 
section 921 of this title.


                             Effective Date

    Subchapter effective Dec. 30, 1969, see section 509 of Pub. L. 91-
173, set out as a note under section 801 of this title.


                              Separability

    Section 206(b) of title II of Pub. L. 97-119 provided that: ``If any 
provision of this title [see Short Title of 1981 Amendment note, set out 
under section 801 of this title], or the application of such provision 
to any person or circumstance, shall be held invalid, the remainder of 
this title, or the application of such provision to persons or 
circumstances other than those to which it is held invalid, shall not be 
affected thereby.''


                Special Benefits for Disabled Coal Miners

    Pub. L. 102-394, title II, Oct. 6, 1992, 106 Stat. 1806, provided 
that: ``For carrying out title IV of the Federal Mine Safety and Health 
Act of 1977 [30 U.S.C. 901 et seq.], including for fiscal year 1993 and 
thereafter the payment of travel expenses on an actual cost or commuted 
basis, to an individual, for travel incident to medical examinations, 
and when travel of more than 75 miles is required, to parties, their 
representatives, and all reasonably necessary witnesses for travel 
within the United States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, to 
reconsideration interviews and to proceedings before administrative law 
judges, $601,313,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That 
monthly benefit payments for fiscal year 1993 and thereafter shall be 
paid consistent with section 215(g) of the Social Security Act [42 
U.S.C. 415(g)].''


  Study of Current Medical Methods for Diagnosis of Pneumoconiosis and 
 Nature and Extent of Impairment Attributable to Simple and Complicated 
                   Pneumoconiosis; Report to Congress

    Section 202(e) of Pub. L. 97-119 directed Secretary of Labor, in 
consultation with Secretary of Health and Human Services, to undertake a 
study of current medical methods for diagnosis of pneumoconiosis, and of 
nature and extent of impairment and disability that are attributable to 
the existence of both simple and complicated pneumoconiosis, with study, 
together with appropriate recommendations, to be transmitted to Congress 
no later than eighteen months after Jan. 1, 1982.


 Study of Benefits Under This Subchapter, Other Benefits Received, and 
 Benefits if State Workers' Compensation Programs Applicable; Report to 
                                Congress

    Section 203(c) of Pub. L. 97-119 directed Secretary of Labor to 
undertake a study of the benefits provided by this subchapter, other 
benefits received by individuals who receive benefits under this 
subchapter, and benefits which would be received were State workers' 
compensation programs applicable in lieu of benefits under this 
subchapter, with study, together with appropriate recommendations, to be 
transmitted to Congress no later than eighteen months after Jan. 1, 
1982.
