US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

30 U.S.C. § 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, § 40183 Stat. 792Pub. L. 92–30386 Stat. 153Pub. L. 95–239, § 1692 Stat. 105Pub. L. 97–119, title II, § 203(a)(4)95 Stat. 1644(, , ; , §§ 3(a), 4(b)(2), , , 154; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 97–1191981—Subsec. (a). 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”.

Pub. L. 95–2391978— designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).

Pub. L. 92–303, § 3(a)1972—, 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”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1981 Amendment

Pub. L. 97–119, title II, § 206(a)95 Stat. 1645

section 801 of this title“Except as otherwise provided, the provisions of this title [see Short Title of 1981 Amendment note set out under ] shall take effect on .”
, , , provided that:

Effective Date of 1978 Amendment

Pub. L. 95–239, § 20(a)92 Stat. 106

section 801 of this title“The provisions of this Act [see Short Title of 1978 Amendment note set out under ] shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act [].”
, , , provided that:

Effective Date of 1972 Amendment

Pub. L. 92–303, § 3(c)86 Stat. 153

“The amendments made by this section [amending this section and sections 902, 921, 932, and 933 of this title] shall be effective as of .”
, , , provided that:

section 4(b)(2) of Pub. L. 92–303section 4(g) of Pub. L. 92–303section 921 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date

section 509 of Pub. L. 91–173section 801 of this titleSubchapter effective , see , set out as a note under .

Separability

Pub. L. 97–119, title II, § 206(b)95 Stat. 1645

section 801 of this title“If any provision of this title [see Short Title of 1981 Amendment note, set out under ], 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.”
, , , provided that:

Special Benefits for Disabled Coal Miners

Pub. L. 102–394, title II106 Stat. 1806

30 U.S.C. 901Provided42 U.S.C. 415(g)“For carrying out title IV of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 [ 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: , That monthly benefit payments for fiscal year 1993 and thereafter shall be paid consistent with section 215(g) of the Social Security Act [].”
, , , provided that:

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

Pub. L. 97–119, title II, § 202(e)95 Stat. 1643, , , 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 .

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

Pub. L. 97–119, title II, § 203(c)95 Stat. 1644, , , 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 .