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Monongalia County Commission adopts resolution urging Congress to increase federal black lung benefits
Summary
The Monongalia County Commission on March 5 unanimously approved a resolution urging West Virginia’s congressional delegation to support legislation to raise federal black lung benefits, after a presentation from the Appalachian Citizens Law Center on local impacts and benefit shortfalls.
MONONGALIA COUNTY, W.Va. — The Monongalia County Commission voted March 5 to adopt a resolution calling on West Virginia’s congressional delegation to support legislation to increase federal black lung benefits for disabled miners and their families.
The resolution, introduced after a presentation by Brendan (policy advocate, Appalachian Citizens Law Center), was approved by the commissioners by voice vote. Commissioners in attendance indicated “Aye” on the motion and no opposing votes were recorded; one commissioner was absent.
Brendan, who identified himself as a policy advocate with the Appalachian Citizens Law Center and a former Morgantown resident, told the commission that black lung disease is a progressive, fatal occupational illness caused by inhaling coal and silica dust. He said recent research shows increased cases among people with shorter exposure windows. Quoting University of Illinois Chicago researcher Leonard Goh, Brendan said, "we are seeing cases of disease in people with 5, 6 years of exposure, sometimes even less." Brendan added that investigators have documented more than 4,000 cases of complicated black lung or progressive massive fibrosis since February 2010.
Brendan said that, according to available 2024 data, 5,017 West Virginians received federal black lung benefits and that 61 recipients lived in Monongalia County. He said the federal payments delivered an estimated $1,382,105 in disability and medical benefits to county residents in the most recent year cited by his organization. When the presenter read the county resolution aloud later in the meeting, the resolution text included a different figure, saying federal benefits delivered an estimated $2,382,000 to Monongalia County residents; the commission adopted the resolution as printed.
The resolution states that federal black lung benefit rates have not been tied to cost-of-living increases and that benefit payments have declined in spending value since 1969. It cites the county's concern that a single-person living wage in Monongalia County is more than four times the monthly federal benefit for a miner with no dependents, based on the MIT living-wage calculator referenced by the presenter.
The resolution asks U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, U.S. Representative Riley Moore and other federal leaders to support legislation to increase monthly federal black lung benefit rates. The commission’s vote was recorded as a voice vote; commissioners present voted in favor and none opposed.
Brendan told commissioners he and partner organizations have urged Congress to tie benefits to cost-of-living measures and noted that bills introduced in prior sessions have not received floor votes. He asked the commission to show local support to encourage congressional action.
The commission took the resolution on the floor and approved it by voice vote. The county administrator said the resolution would be assigned and processed through the county's usual channels.
The commission did not set any additional county-level funding or program commitments during the vote; the action was a formal expression of the county’s policy position to be forwarded to federal lawmakers.
