hcr32 intr

HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 32
( By Delegates Staton, Caputo, Kuhn, Manchin,
Fleischauer, Butcher, Tucker and Frederick )

Urging the President of the United States live up to his campaign promises of supporting coal miner's afflicted with black lung and aggressively defend and support the new black lung regulations encouraged by the Department of Labor that represent a step forward in streamlining the claims process for miner's afflicted with black lung.

WHEREAS, The United States Congress ordered that black lung be eradicated from the coal industry over three decades ago; and

WHEREAS, Over the past two decades it has become increasingly difficult for sufferers of black lung to receive their federal black lung benefits; and

WHEREAS, In 1997, the U.S. Department of Labor issued the necessary proposed regulations that would amend the process by which miners apply for black lung benefits and allow for more fair and just distribution of black lung benefits to those miners who need them; and

WHEREAS, These rules were intended to take effect on January 19, 2001, but were delayed due to lawsuits; and

WHEREAS, The United Mine Workers of America intervened in the case to defend the miners who have contracted this deadly disease and denounced any justification for delay on the part of the coal industry; and

WHEREAS, While campaigning in West Virginia last year, President Bush expressed his strong support for black lung victims, yet one of the Bush administration's first acts was to support the lawsuit delaying black lung regulations; and

WHEREAS, West Virginia coal miners and miners across the nation have fueled this nation's economic expansion, while sacrificing their health, and deserve no less; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That the President of the United States live up to his campaign promises of supporting coal miner's afflicted with black lung and aggressively defend and support the new black lung regulations encouraged by the Department of Labor that represent a step forward in streamlining the claims process for miner's afflicted with black lung; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates transmit copies of this resolution to the President of the United States and the West Virginia members of the United States Congress, in order that they may be apprised of the sense of the House of Delegates of West Virginia in this matter.