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Allegheny County Council urges U.S. lawmakers to support legislation for disabled minors and higher black lung benefits
Summary
Council passed a motion urging the county's U.S. representatives to back legislation to assist disabled minors and increase federal black lung benefit rates; sponsors included a broad group of council members and the motion passed by voice vote.
Allegheny County Council approved a motion urging the county’s congressional delegation to support federal legislation to assist disabled minors and to increase monthly black lung benefit rates.
The motion, introduced as a council action and sponsored by Council Members Katina, Prizio, Grisbeck, Botta, Betkowski, Hallam, Nacharetti, Chavgis, Fotoulis, Ambrosia, Macy, and Palmiscena, passed on a voice vote after brief remarks from Council Member Prizio.
Council Member Anita Prizio summarized the motion, saying coal mining in southwestern Pennsylvania has exposed generations of families to dust that causes black lung disease. Prizio said the motion notes that "thousands of coal miners and their dependents rely on federal black lung benefits, including 43 claimants that reside in Allegheny County," and that claimants' benefits "have declined by 30% since 1969." She urged colleagues to support the motion so claimants "deserve to live their lives with dignity."
Council approved the motion by voice vote; the transcript records members saying "Aye" and the president announcing, "Motion carries." The council did not record individual tallies in the transcript. The motion is a formal expression of the council’s policy preference intended for transmission to the county’s U.S. senators and representatives.
