Economic Loss from the Destruction of the Health and Retirement

Funds — tmony 10

Good morning or My name is D 0/t/M-D

F/Wevitw, v1/ ✓ , and I live in town/city, state. I am a member of UMWA Local 6461-4?N' Associ c 4

- 44 P‘,14glopy eo PiUnion = and work at Company Name, Mine Name. N o w PAm i'

In deciding on the final language to be contained in the "clean power plan," the EPA has stated that it looked at many potential scenarios in order to craft an effective and workable solution to the global climate problem. I could argue, broadly, that this policy will undoubtedly be rejected by the majority of other countries around the world, and therefore have no impact on the problem, making it a ridiculous approach. I will instead focus more narrowly on some economic problems the EPA has
failed to address.

I am sure that the agency has done some elaborate economic studies to bolster its position with regard to this policy. However, as a coal minerand an individual who will feel the brunt of this policy most severely, I

must question whether there was any focus placed on the economic devastation that will slam coalfield communities. Has the EPA actually looked at the numbers? Did it look at this situation in real dollar terms, and does it see what the policy it has settled on will mean?

I am sure that this panel has heard that there are over 100,000 retired miners, their families and widows who are currently receiving pension and medical benefits from the UMWA Health and Retirement Funds. But I wonder if anyone here understands exactly what that means in terms of real dollars. I also wonder if you understand how that money supports not only the beneficiary, but the community as well. Allow me to give you just a few facts and figures to make my point. In 2013, the 100,000-plus beneficiaries of the Funds received pension benefits in excess of $590 million. These earned benefits were used to pay for municipal services, buy clothing, food, support education and help maintain a stable life for the beneficiary. In Pennsylvania, where you are holding this hearing, pensioners received over $111 million. Inneighboring West Virginia, pension benefits topped $204 million. The

bottom line is, these benefits help to sustain communities.

In that same year, these miners and their families also accessed over $577 million in healthcare services; services that were necessary to heal the sick, mend the injured and cure disease. They allowed the beneficiaries to maintain or regain their health, but they also provided assets needed to keep the doctors' offices, clinics pharmacies and hospitals operational. These benefits, like the miner's pension check, help to sustain the community.

As I stated in my opening, based on the actions of other nations, there is little hope that this policy will be effective in achieving any amount of success in addressing its stated mission. Let there be no doubt. If implemented, this policy will succeed where countless ruthless coal operators failed over the years — in destroying the UMWA Health and Retirement Funds. Should that happen, simple economics says the $1.1 billion that annually goes into the coalfields from these Funds will nolonger be available to sustain lives or communities.