Caring for Coal Miners Act

To amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to protect the health care benefits of our Nation’s miners. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Caring for Coal Miners Act 2. Inclusion of retirees after 2006 (a) In general Section 402(h)(2)(C) of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 1232(h)(2)(C)) is amended— (1) by inserting (i) A transfer (2) by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) (as in effect immediately before the enactment of this Act) as subclauses (I) and (II) of clause (i) as designated by the amendment made by paragraph (1) of this section, and moving such subclauses 2 ems to the right; and (3) by striking the matter following such subclause (II) and inserting the following: (ii) Such excess shall be calculated by taking into account only— (I) those beneficiaries actually enrolled in the Plan as of the date of enactment of the Caring for Coal Miners Act (II) those beneficiaries who would be denied health benefits payable directly by an employer in the bituminous coal industry under a coal wage agreement, as that term is defined in section 9701(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 ( 26 U.S.C. 9701(b)(1) (iii) An individual referred to in clause (ii)(II) shall be considered eligible to receive health benefits under the Plan. . (b) Limitation on duplication of benefits (1) Limitation The amount made available as a result of the enactment of this Act shall be reduced by the amount of any benefits actually paid by a Voluntary Employees’ Beneficiary Association to or on behalf of a covered beneficiary, so that no covered beneficiary receives a greater benefit than would have been payable before the establishment of such association. (2) Definitions In this subsection: (A) covered beneficiary The term covered beneficiary 30 U.S.C. 1232(h)(2)(C) (B) Voluntary Employees’ Beneficiary Association The term Voluntary Employees’ Beneficiary Association

Summary: Caring for Coal Miners Act - Amends the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to revise the formula for determining transfers from the Abandoned Mine Reclamation Fund to the Multiemployer Health Benefit Plan. Requires the formula to be calculated by taking into account only: (1) those beneficiaries actually enrolled in the Plan as of the enactment of this Act (currently, enrolled as of December 31, 2006), who are eligible to receive health benefits on the first day of the calendar year for which the transfer is made; and in addition to these beneficiaries (2) those who would be denied health benefits payable directly by an employer in the bituminous coal industry under a coal wage agreement as a result of a bankruptcy proceeding commenced in 2012. Considers the latter beneficiaries to be eligible to receive such health benefits under the Plan. Requires reduction of the amount made available to a beneficiary as a result of this Act, however, by the amount of any benefits actually paid by a Voluntary Employees' Beneficiary Association (VEBA) to or on behalf of a covered beneficiary, so that no covered beneficiary receives a greater benefit than would have been payable before the VEBA was established. Defines "Voluntary Employees' Beneficiary Association" as one established pursuant to the order entered May 29, 2013, by the Court in the case In re: Patriot Coal Corporation (Case No. 12-51502, Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Missouri).