SEC. 104. RESTORING ADEQUATE BENEFIT ADJUSTMENTS 
FOR MINERS SUFFERING FROM BLACK LUNG 
DISEASE AND FOR THEIR DEPENDENT FAM-
ILY MEMBERS. 
Section 412(a) of the Black Lung Benefits Act (30 
U.S.C. 922(a)) is amended by striking paragraph (1) and 
inserting the following: 
‘‘(1) In the case of total disability of a miner 
due to pneumoconiosis, the disabled miner shall be 
paid benefits during the disability— 
‘‘(A) for any calendar year preceding Jan-
uary 1, 2015, at a rate equal to 371⁄2 percent 
of the monthly pay rate for Federal employees 
in grade GS–2, step 1; 
‘‘(B) for the calendar year beginning on 
January 1, 2015, at a rate of $7,980 per year, 
payable in 12 equal monthly payments; and 
‘‘(C) for each calendar year thereafter, at 
a rate equal to the amount under subparagraph 
(B) increased by an amount equal to any in-
crease in the annual rate of the Consumer Price 
Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical 
Workers, as published by the Bureau of Labor 
Statistics.’’. 
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SEC. 105. TREATMENT OF EVIDENCE IN EQUIPOISE. 
Section 422 of the Black Lung Benefits Act (30 
U.S.C. 932) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(m) In determining the validity of a claim under this 
title, an adjudicator who finds that the evidence is evenly 
balanced on an issue shall resolve any resulting doubt in 
the claimant’s favor and find that the claimant has met 
the burden of persuasion on such issue.’’. 
SEC. 106. PROVIDING ASSISTANCE WITH CLAIMS FOR MIN-
ERS AND THEIR DEPENDENT FAMILY MEM-
BERS. 
Section 427(a) of the Black Lung Benefits Act (30 
U.S.C. 937(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘the analysis, ex-
amination, and treatment’’ and all that follows through 
‘‘coal miners.’’ and inserting ‘‘the analysis, examination, 
and treatment of respiratory and pulmonary impairments 
in active and inactive coal miners and for assistance on 
behalf of miners, spouses, dependents, and other family 
members with claims arising under this title.’’. 
SEC. 107. FALSE STATEMENTS OR MISREPRESENTATIONS, 
ATTORNEY 
DISQUALIFICATION, 
AND 
DIS-
COVERY SANCTIONS. 
Section 431 of the Black Lung Benefits Act (30 
U.S.C. 941) is amended to read as follows: 
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‘‘SEC. 431. FALSE STATEMENTS OR MISREPRESENTATIONS, 
ATTORNEY 
DISQUALIFICATION, 
AND 
DIS-
COVERY SANCTIONS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—No person, including any claim-
ant, physician, operator, duly authorized agent of such op-
erator, or employee of an insurance carrier, shall— 
‘‘(1) knowingly and willfully make a false state-
ment or misrepresentation for the purpose of obtain-
ing, increasing, reducing, denying, or terminating 
benefits under this title; or 
‘‘(2) knowingly and willfully threaten, coerce, 
intimidate, deceive, or mislead a party, representa-
tive, witness, potential witness, judge, or anyone par-
ticipating in a proceeding regarding any matter re-
lated to a proceeding under this title. 
‘‘(b) FINE; IMPRISONMENT.—Any person who en-
gages in the conduct described in subsection (a) shall, 
upon conviction, be subject to a fine in accordance with 
title 18, United States Code, imprisoned for not more than 
5 years, or both. 
‘‘(c) PROMPT INVESTIGATION.—The United States 
Attorney for the district in which the conduct described 
in subsection (a) is alleged to have occurred shall make 
every reasonable effort to promptly investigate each com-
plaint of a violation of such subsection. 
‘‘(d) DISQUALIFICATION.— 
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‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—An attorney or expert wit-
ness who engages in the conduct described in sub-
section (a) shall, in addition to the fine or imprison-
ment provided under subsection (b), be permanently 
disqualified from representing any party, or appear-
ing in any proceeding, under this title. 
‘‘(2) ATTORNEY DISQUALIFICATION.—In addi-
tion to the disqualification described in paragraph 
(1), the Secretary may disqualify an attorney from 
representing any party in any administrative pro-
ceeding under this title for either a limited term or 
permanently, if the attorney— 
‘‘(A) engages in any action or behavior 
that is prejudicial to the fair and orderly con-
duct of such proceeding; or 
‘‘(B) is suspended or disbarred by any 
court of the United States, any State, or any 
territory, commonwealth, or possession of the 
United States with jurisdiction over the pro-
ceeding. 
‘‘(e) DISCOVERY SANCTIONS.—An administrative law 
judge may sanction a party who fails to comply with an 
order to compel discovery or disclosure, or to supplement 
earlier responses, in a proceeding under this title. These 
sanctions may include, as appropriate— 
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‘‘(1) drawing an adverse inference against the 
noncomplying party on the facts relevant to the dis-
covery or disclosure order; 
‘‘(2) limiting the noncomplying party’s claims, 
defenses, or right to introduce evidence; and 
‘‘(3) rendering a default decision against the 
noncomplying party. 
‘‘(f) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall promulgate 
regulations that— 
‘‘(1) provide procedures for the disqualifications 
and sanctions under this section and are appropriate 
for all parties; and 
‘‘(2) distinguish between parties that are rep-
resented by an attorney and parties that are not 
represented by an attorney.’’. 
SEC. 108. DEVELOPMENT OF MEDICAL EVIDENCE BY THE 
SECRETARY. 
Part C of the Black Lung Benefits Act (30 U.S.C. 
931 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘SEC. 435. DEVELOPMENT OF MEDICAL EVIDENCE BY THE 
SECRETARY. 
‘‘(a) COMPLETE PULMONARY EVALUATION.—Upon 
request by a claimant for benefits under this title, the Sec-
retary shall provide the claimant an opportunity to sub-
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