Title: Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety Protection Act of 2017
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety Protection Act of 2017
This bill amends the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 to revise requirements governing: (1) investigations of mine accidents; (2) miners' rights and protections (e.g., whistle-blower rights and protections); (3) mine health and safety standards; (4) underground coal mines; and (5) health and safety training for miners.
The Department of Labor, when investigating coal or other mines, must: (1) determine why an accident occurred and whether there were violations of law, mandatory health and safety standards, or other requirements; (2) refer to the Department of Justice cases involving violations of federal criminal law; and (3) make recommendations to avoid a recurrence of an accident. The bill requires independent investigation of a mine accident under certain circumstances.
The bill expands Labor's enforcement authority, including by requiring Labor to: (1) revoke the approval of mine operators' plans or programs based on certain criteria, and (2) order mine operators to withdraw all persons from a mine until Labor approves a new plan. The bill revises civil and criminal penalties, including by subjecting a mine operator who knowingly violates health or safety standards to a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $1 million fine.
The bill also expands whistle-blower rights and protections, including by: (1) giving miners' rights and protections to all employees of a mine, and (2) prohibiting discrimination against those employees for refusing to perform duties if they have a good-faith and reasonable belief that their duties pose a safety or health hazard.
Underground coal mines operators must: (1) implement a communication program to brief miners of current mine conditions, and (2) install atmospheric monitoring systems.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1903 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1903

To improve compliance with mine safety and health laws, empower miners 
to raise safety concerns, prevent future mine tragedies, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 5, 2017

 Mr. Scott of Virginia (for himself, Mr. Takano, Mr. Courtney, and Ms. 
Wilson of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
              the Committee on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To improve compliance with mine safety and health laws, empower miners 
to raise safety concerns, prevent future mine tragedies, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Robert C. Byrd 
Mine Safety Protection Act of 2017''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. References.
       TITLE I--ADDITIONAL INSPECTION AND INVESTIGATION AUTHORITY

Sec. 101. Independent accident investigations.
Sec. 102. Subpoena authority and miner rights during inspections and 
                            investigations.
Sec. 103. Designation of miner representative.
Sec. 104. Additional amendments relating to inspections and 
                            investigations.
                TITLE II--ENHANCED ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY

Sec. 201. Technical amendment.
Sec. 202. Procedures and criteria for determining a pattern of 
                            violations.
Sec. 203. Injunctive authority.
Sec. 204. Revocation of approval of plans.
Sec. 205. Challenging a decision to approve, modify, or revoke a coal 
                            or other mine plan.
Sec. 206. GAO Study on MSHA Mine Plan Approval.
                          TITLE III--PENALTIES

Sec. 301. Civil penalties.
Sec. 302. Civil and criminal liability of officers, directors, and 
                            agents.
Sec. 303. Criminal penalties.
Sec. 304. Commission review of penalty assessments.
Sec. 305. Delinquent payments and prejudgment interest.
                TITLE IV--MINERS' RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS

Sec. 401. Protection from retaliation.
Sec. 402. Protection from loss of pay.
Sec. 403. Underground coal miner employment standard for mines placed 
                            in pattern of violations status.
            TITLE V--MODERNIZING HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS

Sec. 501. Pre-shift review of mine conditions.
Sec. 502. Rock dust standards.
Sec. 503. Atmospheric monitoring systems.
Sec. 504. Study on respirable dust standards.
Sec. 505. Refresher training on miners' rights and responsibilities.
Sec. 506. Authority to mandate additional training.
Sec. 507. Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants.
Sec. 508. Certification of personnel.
Sec. 509. Electronic records requirement.
              TITLE VI--ADDITIONAL MINE SAFETY PROVISIONS

Sec. 601. Definitions.
Sec. 602. Assistance to States.
Sec. 603. Authorization of cooperative agreements by NIOSH Office of 
                            Mine Safety and Health.
Sec. 604. Double encumbrance; succession plan.

SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

    Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an 
amendment is expressed as an amendment to a section or other provision, 
the reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other 
provision of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (30 U.S.C. 
801 et seq.).

       TITLE I--ADDITIONAL INSPECTION AND INVESTIGATION AUTHORITY

SEC. 101. INDEPENDENT ACCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS.

    (a) In General.--Section 103(b) (30 U.S.C. 813(b)) is amended by 
striking ``(b) For the purpose'' and inserting the following:
    ``(b) Accident Investigations.--
            ``(1) In general.--For all accident investigations under 
        this Act, the Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) determine why the accident occurred;
                    ``(B) determine whether there were violations of 
                law, mandatory health and safety standards, or other 
                requirements, and if there is evidence of conduct that 
                may constitute a violation of Federal criminal law, the 
                Secretary may refer such evidence to the Attorney 
                General; and
                    ``(C) make recommendations to avoid any recurrence.
            ``(2) Independent accident investigations.--
                    ``(A) In general.--There shall be, in addition to 
                an accident investigation under paragraph (1), an 
                independent investigation by an independent 
                investigation panel (referred to in this subsection as 
                the `Panel') appointed under subparagraph (B) for--
                            ``(i) any accident involving 3 or more 
                        deaths; or
                            ``(ii) any accident that is of such 
                        severity or scale for potential or actual harm 
                        that, in the opinion of the Secretary of Health 
                        and Human Services, the accident merits an 
                        independent investigation.
                    ``(B) Appointment.--
                            ``(i) In general.--As soon as practicable 
                        after an accident described in subparagraph 
                        (A), the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
                        shall appoint 5 members for the Panel required 
                        under this paragraph from among individuals who 
                        have expertise in accident investigations, mine 
                        engineering, or mine safety and health that is 
                        relevant to the particular investigation.
                            ``(ii) Chairperson.--The Panel shall 
                        include, and be chaired by, a representative 
                        from the Office of Mine Safety and Health 
                        Research, of the National Institute for 
                        Occupational Safety and Health (referred to in 
                        this subsection as NIOSH).
                            ``(iii) Conflicts of interest.--Panel 
                        members, and staff and consultants assisting 
                        the Panel with an investigation, shall be free 
                        from conflicts of interest with regard to the 
                        investigation, and be subject to the same 
                        standards of ethical conduct for persons 
                        employed by the Secretary.
                            ``(iv) Composition.--The Secretary of 
                        Health and Human Services shall appoint as 
                        members of the Panel--
                                    ``(I) 1 operator of a mine or 
                                individual representing mine operators, 
                                and
                                    ``(II) 1 representative of a labor 
                                organization that represents miners,
                        and may not appoint more than 1 of either such 
                        individuals as members of the Panel.
                            ``(v) Staff and expenses.--The Director of 
                        NIOSH shall designate NIOSH staff to facilitate 
                        the work of the Panel. The Director may accept 
                        as staff personnel on detail from other Federal 
                        agencies or re-employ annuitants. The detail of 
                        personnel under this paragraph may be on a non-
                        reimbursable basis, and such detail shall be 
                        without interruption or loss of civil service 
                        status or privilege. The Director of NIOSH 
                        shall have the authority to procure on behalf 
                        of the Panel such materials, supplies or 
                        services, including technical experts, as 
                        requested in writing by a majority of the 
                        Panel.
                            ``(vi) Compensation and travel.--All 
                        members of the Panel who are officers or 
                        employees of the United States shall serve 
                        without compensation in addition to that 
                        received for their services as officers or 
                        employees of the United States. Each Panel 
                        member who is not an officer or employee of the 
                        United States shall be compensated at a rate 
                        equal to the daily equivalent of the annual 
                        rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of 
                        the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of 
                        title 5, United States Code, for each day 
                        (including travel time) during which such 
                        member is engaged in the performance of duties 
                        of the Panel. The members of the Panel shall be 
                        allowed travel expenses, including per diem in 
                        lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for 
                        employees of agencies under subchapter 1 of 
                        chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, 
                        while away from their homes or regular places 
                        of business in the performance of services for 
                        the Panel.
                    ``(C) Duties.--The Panel shall--
                            ``(i) assess and identify any factors that 
                        caused the accident, including deficiencies in 
                        safety management systems, regulations, 
                        enforcement, industry practices or guidelines, 
                        or organizational failures;
                            ``(ii) identify and evaluate any 
                        contributing actions or inactions of--
                                    ``(I) the operator;
                                    ``(II) any contractors or other 
                                persons engaged in mining-related 
                                functions at the site;
                                    ``(III) any State agency with 
                                oversight responsibilities;
                                    ``(IV) any agency or office within 
                                the Department of Labor;
                                    ``(V) the Federal Mine Safety and 
                                Health Review Commission; or
                                    ``(VI) any other person or entity 
                                (including equipment manufacturers);
                            ``(iii) review the determinations and 
                        recommendations by the Secretary under 
                        paragraph (1);
                            ``(iv) prepare a report that--
                                    ``(I) includes the findings 
                                regarding the causal factors described 
                                in clauses (i) and (ii);
                                    ``(II) identifies any strengths and 
                                weaknesses in the Secretary's 
                                investigation; and
                                    ``(III) includes recommendations, 
                                including interim recommendations where 
                                appropriate, to industry, labor 
                                organizations, State and Federal 
                                agencies, or Congress, regarding 
                                policy, regulatory, enforcement, 
                                administrative, or other changes, which 
                                in the judgment of the Panel, would 
                                prevent a recurrence at other mines; 
                                and
                            ``(v) publish such findings and 
                        recommendations (excluding any portions which 
                        the Attorney General requests that the 
                        Secretary withhold in relation to a criminal 
                        referral) and hold public meetings to inform 
                        the mining community and families of affected 
                        miners of the Panel's findings and 
                        recommendations.
                    ``(D) Hearings; applicability of certain federal 
                law.--The Panel shall have the authority to conduct 
                public hearings or meetings, but shall not be subject 
                to the Federal Advisory Committee Act. All public 
                hearings of the Panel shall be subject to the 
                requirements under section 552b of title 5, United 
                States Code.
                    ``(E) Memorandum of understanding.--Not later than 
                90 days after the date of enactment of the Robert C. 
                Byrd Mine Safety Protection Act of 2017, the Secretary 
                of Labor and the Secretary of Health and Human Services 
                shall conclude and publically issue a memorandum of 
                understanding that--
                            ``(i) outlines administrative arrangements 
                        which will facilitate a coordination of efforts 
                        between the Secretary of Labor and the Panel, 
                        ensures that the Secretary's investigation 
                        under paragraph (1) is not delayed or otherwise 
                        compromised by the activities of the Panel, and 
                        establishes a process to resolve any conflicts 
                        between such investigations;
                            ``(ii) ensures that Panel members or staff 
                        will be able to participate in investigation 
                        activities (such as mine inspections and 
                        interviews) related to the Secretary of Labor's 
                        investigation and will have full access to 
                        documents that are assembled or produced in 
                        such investigation, and ensures that the 
                        Secretary of Labor will make all of the 
                        authority available to such Secretary under 
                        this section to obtain information and 
                        witnesses which may be requested by such Panel; 
                        and
                            ``(iii) establishes such other arrangements 
                        as are necessary to implement this paragraph.
                    ``(F) Procedures.--Not later than 90 days after the 
                date of enactment of the Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety 
                Protection Act of 2017, the Secretary of Health and 
                Human Services shall establish procedures to ensure the 
                consistency and effectiveness of Panel investigations. 
                In establishing such procedures, such Secretary shall 
                consult with independent safety investigation agencies, 
                sectors of the mining industry, representatives of 
                miners, families of miners involved in fatal accidents, 
                State mine safety agencies, and mine rescue 
                organizations. Such procedures shall include--
                            ``(i) authority for the Panel to use 
                        evidence, samples, interviews, data, analyses, 
                        findings, or other information gathered by the 
                        Secretary of Labor, as the Panel determines 
                        valid;
                            ``(ii) provisions to ensure confidentiality 
                        if requested by any witness, to the extent 
                        permitted by law, and prevent conflicts of 
                        interest in witness representation; and
                            ``(iii) provisions for preservation of 
                        public access to the Panel's records through 
                        the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
                    ``(G) Subpoenas; witnesses; contempt.--
                            ``(i) Subpoena authority.--For the purpose 
                        of making any investigation of any accident or 
                        other occurrence relating to health or safety 
                        in a coal or other mine under this paragraph, 
                        the Director of the National Institute for 
                        Occupational Safety and Health shall at the 
                        request of a majority of the Panel or upon his 
                        own initiative sign and issue subpoenas for the 
                        attendance and testimony of witnesses and the 
                        production of relevant papers, books, and 
                        documents, and administer oaths. Witnesses 
                        summoned shall be paid the same fees and 
                        mileage that are paid witnesses in the courts 
                        of the United States.
                            ``(ii) Contumacy.--In case of contumacy or 
                        refusal to obey a subpoena served upon any 
                        person under this section, the district court 
                        of the United States for any district in which 
                        such person is found or resides or transacts 
                        business, upon application by the United States 
                        and after notice to such person, shall have 
                        jurisdiction to issue an order requiring such 
                        person to appear and give testimony before the 
                        Director or Panel, or to appear and produce 
                        documents before the Director or Panel, or 
                        both, and any failure to obey such order of the 
                        court may be punished by such court as a 
                        contempt thereof.
                            ``(iii) Additional investigative 
                        authority.--In carrying out inspections and 
                        investigations under this subsection, the staff 
                        of the Director or Panel and attorneys 
                        representing the Director or Panel are 
                        authorized to question any individual 
                        privately. Under this subparagraph, any 
                        individual who is willing to speak with or 
                        provide a statement to the Director or Panel's 
                        staff or their attorneys, may do so without the 
                        presence, involvement, or knowledge of the 
                        operator or the operator's agents or attorneys. 
                        The Director or Panel shall keep the identity 
                        of an individual providing such a statement 
                        confidential to the extent permitted by law. 
                        Nothing in this paragraph prevents any 
                        individual from being represented by that 
                        individual's personal attorney or other 
                        representative.
                    ``(H) Authorization of appropriations.--There is 
                authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
                subsection such sums as may be necessary.
            ``(3) Powers and processes.--For the purpose''.
    (b) Reporting Requirements.--Section 511(a) (30 U.S.C. 958(a)) is 
amended by inserting after ``501,'' the following: ``the status of 
implementation of recommendations from each independent investigation 
panel under section 103(b) received in the preceding 5 years''.

SEC. 102. SUBPOENA AUTHORITY AND MINER RIGHTS DURING INSPECTIONS AND 
              INVESTIGATIONS.

    Section 103(b) (as amended by section 101) (30 U.S.C. 813(b)) is 
further amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Additional powers.--For purposes of making 
        inspections and investigations, the Secretary or the 
        Secretary's designee, may sign and issue subpoenas for the 
        attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of 
        information, including all relevant data, papers, books, 
        documents, and items of physical evidence, and administer 
        oaths. Witnesses summoned shall be paid the same fees that are 
        paid witnesses in the courts of the United States. In carrying 
        out inspections and investigations under this subsection, 
        authorized representatives of the Secretary and attorneys 
        representing the Secretary are authorized to question any 
        individual privately. Under this section, any individual who is 
        willing to speak with or provide a statement to such authorized 
        representatives or attorneys representing the Secretary may do 
        so without the presence, involvement, or knowledge of the 
        operator or the operator's agents or attorneys. The Secretary 
        shall keep the identity of an individual providing such a 
        statement confidential to the extent permitted by law. Nothing 
        in this paragraph prevents any individual from being 
        represented by that individual's personal attorney or other 
        representative.''.

SEC. 103. DESIGNATION OF MINER REPRESENTATIVE.

    Section 103(f) (30 U.S.C. 813(f)) is amended by inserting before 
the last sentence the following: ``If any miner is entrapped, disabled, 
killed, or otherwise prevented as the result of an accident in such 
mine from designating such a representative directly, such miner's 
closest relative may act on behalf of such miner in designating such a 
representative. If any miner is not currently working in such mine as 
the result of an accident in such mine, but would be currently working 
in such mine but for such accident, such miner may designate such a 
representative. A representative of miners shall have the right to 
participate in any accident investigation the Secretary initiates 
pursuant to subsection (b), including the right to participate in 
investigative interviews and to review all relevant papers, books, 
documents and records produced in connection with the accident 
investigation, unless the Secretary, in consultation with the Attorney 
General, excludes such representatives from the investigation on the 
grounds that inclusion would interfere with or adversely impact a 
criminal investigation that is pending or under consideration.''.

SEC. 104. ADDITIONAL AMENDMENTS RELATING TO INSPECTIONS AND 
              INVESTIGATIONS.

    (a) Hours of Inspections.--Section 103(a) (30 U.S.C. 813(a)) is 
amended by inserting after the third sentence the following: ``Such 
inspections shall be conducted during the various shifts and days of 
the week during which miners are normally present in the mine to ensure 
that the protections of this Act are afforded to all miners working all 
shifts.''.
    (b) Review of Mine Pattern of Violations Status.--Section 103(a) is 
further amended by inserting before the last sentence the following: 
``The Secretary shall, upon request by an operator, review with the 
appropriate mine officials the Secretary's most recent evaluation for 
pattern of violations status (as provided in section 104(e)) for that 
mine during the course of a mine's regular quarterly inspection of an 
underground mine or a biannual inspection of a surface mine, or, at the 
discretion of the Secretary, during the pre-inspection conference.''.
    (c) Injury and Illness Reporting.--Section 103(d) (30 U.S.C. 
813(d)) is amended by striking the last sentence and inserting the 
following: ``The records to be kept and made available by the operator 
of the mine shall include man-hours worked and occupational injuries 
and illnesses with respect to the miners in their employ or under their 
direction or authority, and shall be maintained separately for each 
mine and be reported at a frequency determined by the Secretary, but at 
least annually. Independent contractors (within the meaning of section 
3(d)) shall be responsible for reporting accidents, occupational 
injuries and illnesses, and man-hours worked for each mine with respect 
to the miners in their employ or under their direction or authority, 
and shall be reported at a frequency determined by the Secretary, but 
at least annually. Reports or records of operators and contractors 
required and submitted to the Secretary under this subsection shall be 
signed and certified as accurate and complete by a knowledgeable and 
responsible person possessing a certification, registration, 
qualification, or other approval, as provided for under section 118. 
Knowingly falsifying such records or reports shall be grounds for 
revoking such certification, registration, qualification, or other 
approval under the standards established under subsection (b)(1) of 
such section.''.
    (d) Orders Following an Accident.--Section 103(k) (30 U.S.C. 
813(k)) is amended by striking ``, when present,''.
    (e) Conflict of Interest in the Representation of Miners.--Section 
103(a) (30 U.S.C. 813(a)) is amended by adding at the end the 
following: ``During inspections and investigations under this section, 
and during any litigation under this Act, no attorney shall represent 
or purport to represent both the operator of a coal or other mine and 
any other individual, unless such individual has knowingly and 
voluntarily waived all actual and reasonably foreseeable conflicts of 
interest resulting from such representation. The Secretary is 
authorized to take such actions as the Secretary considers appropriate 
to ascertain whether such individual has knowingly and voluntarily 
waived all such conflicts of interest. If the Secretary finds that such 
an individual cannot be represented adequately by such an attorney due 
to such conflicts of interest, the Secretary may petition the 
appropriate United States District Court which shall have jurisdiction 
to disqualify such attorney as counsel to such individual in the 
matter. The Secretary may make such a motion as part of an ongoing 
related civil action or as a miscellaneous action.''.

                TITLE II--ENHANCED ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY

SEC. 201. TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.

    Section 104(d)(1) (30 U.S.C. 814(d)(1)) is amended--
            (1) in the first sentence--
                    (A) by striking ``any mandatory health or safety 
                standard'' and inserting ``any provision of this Act, 
                including any mandatory health or safety standard or 
                regulation promulgated under this Act''; and
                    (B) by striking ``such mandatory health or safety 
                standards'' and inserting ``such provisions, 
                regulations, or mandatory health or safety standards''; 
                and
            (2) in the second sentence, by striking ``any mandatory 
        health or safety standard'' and inserting ``any provision of 
        this Act, including any mandatory health or safety standard or 
        regulation promulgated under this Act,''.

SEC. 202. PROCEDURES AND CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING A PATTERN OF 
              VIOLATIONS.

    Part 104 of chapter I of title 30, Code of Federal Regulations, as 
revised by the Federal Mine Safety and Health Administration and 
published at 78 Fed. Reg. 5073 (January 23, 2013) shall have the force 
and effect of law and shall remain in effect subject to an Act of 
Congress.

SEC. 203. INJUNCTIVE AUTHORITY.

    Section 108(a)(2) (30 U.S.C. 818(a)(2)) is amended by striking ``a 
pattern of violation of'' and all that follows and inserting ``a course 
of conduct that in the judgment of the Secretary constitutes a 
continuing hazard to the health or safety of miners, including 
violations of this Act or of mandatory health and safety standards or 
regulations under this Act.''.

SEC. 204. REVOCATION OF APPROVAL OF PLANS.

    Section 105 (30 U.S.C. 815) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
    ``(d) Revocation of Approval of Plans.--
            ``(1) Revocation.--If the Secretary finds that any program 
        or plan of an operator, or part thereof, that was approved by 
        the Secretary under this Act is based on inaccurate information 
        or that circumstances that existed when such plan was approved 
        have materially changed and that continued operation of such 
        mine under such plan constitutes a hazard to the safety or 
        health of miners, the Secretary shall revoke the approval of 
        such program or plan.
            ``(2) Withdrawal orders.--Upon revocation of the approval 
        of a program or plan under subsection (a), the Secretary may 
        immediately issue an order requiring the operator to cause all 
        persons, except those persons referred to in section 104(c), to 
        be withdrawn from such mine or an area of such mine, and to be 
        prohibited from entering such mine or such area, until the 
        operator has submitted and the Secretary has approved a new 
        plan.''.

SEC. 205. CHALLENGING A DECISION TO APPROVE, MODIFY, OR REVOKE A COAL 
              OR OTHER MINE PLAN.

    Section 105(e) (as redesignated by section 204(1)) (30 U.S.C. 
815(e)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``In any 
proceeding in which a party challenges the Secretary's decision whether 
to approve, modify, or revoke a coal or other mine plan under this Act, 
the Commission shall affirm the Secretary's decision unless the 
challenging party establishes that such decision was arbitrary, 
capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with 
law.''.

SEC. 206. GAO STUDY ON MSHA MINE PLAN APPROVAL.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Comptroller General shall provide a report to Congress on the 
timeliness of the Mine Safety and Health Administration's approval of 
underground coal mines' required plans and plan amendments, including--
            (1) factors that contribute to any delays in the approval 
        of these plans; and
            (2) as appropriate, recommendations for improving 
        timeliness of plan review and for achieving prompt decisions.

                          TITLE III--PENALTIES

SEC. 301. CIVIL PENALTIES.

    (a) Targeted Penalties.--Section 110(b) (30 U.S.C. 820(b)) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) A civil penalty of not more than $220,000 may be 
        assessed for--
                    ``(A) any change to a ventilation system or 
                ventilation control in a coal or other mine, where such 
                ventilation system or control is required by a 
                ventilation plan, safety standard, or order, and such 
                change is made without prior approval of the Secretary 
                and diminishes the level of protection below the 
                minimum requirements of the approved ventilation plan 
                or applicable safety standard or order;
                    ``(B) a violation of a mandatory health and safety 
                standard requiring rock dusting in a coal mine;
                    ``(C) a violation of the statutory prohibition on 
                providing advance notice of an inspection; or
                    ``(D) a violation of a mandatory health and safety 
                standard requiring examinations of work areas in an 
                underground coal mine.''.
    (b) Increased Civil Penalties During Pattern of Violations 
Status.--Section 110(b) (30 U.S.C. 820(b)) is further amended by adding 
at the end the following:
    ``(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, an operator 
of a coal or other mine that is in pattern of violations status under 
section 104(e) shall be assessed an increased civil penalty for any 
violation of this Act, including any mandatory health or safety 
standard or regulation promulgated under this Act. Such increased 
penalty shall be twice the amount that would otherwise be assessed for 
the violation under this Act, including the regulations promulgated 
under this Act, subject to the maximum civil penalty established for 
the violation under this Act.''.
    (c) Civil Penalty for Retaliation.--Section 110(a) (30 U.S.C. 
820(a)) is further amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
    ``(4) If any person violates section 105(c), the Secretary shall 
propose, and the Commission shall assess, a civil penalty of not less 
than $10,000 or more than $100,000 for the first occurrence of such 
violation, and not less than $20,000 or more than $200,000 for any 
subsequent violation, during any 3-year period.''.
    (d) Technical Correction.--Section 110(a)(1) (30 U.S.C. 820(a)(1)) 
is amended by inserting ``including any regulation promulgated under 
this Act,'' after ``this Act,''.

SEC. 302. CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LIABILITY OF OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, AND 
              AGENTS.

    Section 110(c) (30 U.S.C. 820(c)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(c) Civil and Criminal Liability of Officers, Directors, and 
Agents.--
            ``(1) Civil penalties.--Whenever an operator engages in 
        conduct for which the operator is subject to civil penalties 
        under this section, any director, officer, or agent of such 
        operator who knowingly authorizes, orders, or carries out such 
        conduct, or who knowingly authorizes, orders, or carries out 
        any policy or practice that results in such conduct and having 
        reason to believe it would so result, shall be subject to the 
        same civil penalties under this section as if it were an 
        operator engaging in such conduct.
            ``(2) Criminal penalties.--Whenever an operator engages in 
        conduct for which the operator is subject to criminal penalties 
        under subsection (d), any director, officer, or agent of such 
        operator who knowingly authorizes, orders, or carries out such 
        conduct, or who knowingly authorizes, orders, or carries out a 
        policy or practice that results in such conduct, and knowing 
        that it will so result, shall be subject to the same penalties 
        under paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (d) as if such person 
        were an operator engaging in such conduct.''.

SEC. 303. CRIMINAL PENALTIES.

    (a) In General.--Section 110 (30 U.S.C. 820) is amended by striking 
subsection (d) and--
            (1) by inserting the following new heading:
    ``(d) Criminal Penalties.--'';
            (2) by inserting after the heading (as added by paragraph 
        (1) of this subsection), the following new paragraph:
            ``(1) In general.--Whoever, being an operator, knowingly--
                    ``(A) violates a mandatory health or safety 
                standard, or
                    ``(B) violates or fails or refuses to comply with 
                any order issued under section 104 or section 107, or 
                any order incorporated in a final decision issued under 
                this Act (except an order incorporated in a decision 
                under subsection (a)(1) or section 105(c)),
        shall, upon conviction, be fined not more than $250,000, or 
        imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both, except that if 
        the operator commits the violation after having been previously 
        convicted of a violation under this paragraph and if, the 
        operator knows or has reason to know that such subsequent 
        violation has the potential to expose a miner to risk of 
        serious injury, serious illness, or death, the operator shall, 
        upon conviction, be fined not more than $1,000,000, or 
        imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both.'';
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (1) (as added by paragraph 
        (2) of this subsection), the following new paragraph:
            ``(2) Significant risk of serious injury, serious illness, 
        or death.--Whoever, being an operator, knowingly--
                    ``(A) tampers with or disables a required safety 
                device (except with express authorization from the 
                Secretary),
                    ``(B) violates a mandatory health or safety 
                standard, or
                    ``(C) violates or fails or refuses to comply with 
                an order issued under section 104 or 107, or any order 
                incorporated in a final decision issued under this Act 
                (except an order incorporated in a decision under 
                subsection (a)(1) or section 105(c)),
        and thereby recklessly exposes a miner to significant risk of 
        serious injury, serious illness, or death, shall, upon 
        conviction, be fined not more than $1,000,000 or imprisoned for 
        not more than 5 years, or both, except that if the operator 
        commits the violation after having been previously convicted of 
        a violation under this paragraph, the operator shall, upon 
        conviction, be fined not more than $2,000,000, or imprisoned 
        for not more than 10 years, or both.''; and
            (4) by inserting after paragraph (2) (as added by paragraph 
        (3) of this subsection), the following new paragraph:
            ``(3) Criminal penalties for retaliation.--Whoever 
        knowingly--
                    ``(A) with the intent to retaliate, interferes with 
                the lawful employment or livelihood of a person, or the 
                spouse, sibling, child, or parent of a person, because 
                any of them provides information to an authorized 
                representative of the Secretary, to a State or local 
                mine safety or health officer or official, or to other 
                law enforcement officer, in reasonable belief that the 
                information is true and related to an apparent health 
                or safety violation, or to an apparent unhealthful or 
                unsafe condition, policy, or practice under this Act, 
                or
                    ``(B) interferes, or threatens to interfere, with 
                the lawful employment or livelihood of a person, or the 
                spouse, sibling, child, or parent of a person, with the 
                intent to prevent any of them from so providing such 
                information,
        shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned for not more than 5 
        years, or both.''.
    (b) Advance Notice of Inspections.--
            (1) In general.--Section 110(e) (30 U.S.C. 820(e)) is 
        amended to read as follows:
    ``(e) Whoever knowingly, with intent to give advance notice of an 
inspection conducted or to be conducted under this Act, and thereby to 
impede, interfere with, or frustrate such inspection, engages in, or 
directs another person to engage in, conduct that a reasonable person 
would expect to result in such advance notice, shall be fined under 
title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned for not more than 5 years, 
or both, except that a miner (other than a director, officer or agent 
of the operator involved) who commits the offense at the direction of a 
superior shall be fined under title 18, or imprisoned not more than 1 
year, or both, unless the miner commits a second or subsequent offense 
under this subsection (without regard to whether the offense was 
committed at the direction of a superior) in which case the miner shall 
be fined for such second and subsequent offense under title 18, United 
States Code, or imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both.''.
            (2) Posting of advance notice penalties.--Section 109 (30 
        U.S.C. 819) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(e) Posting of Advance Notice Penalties.--Each operator of a coal 
or other mine shall post, on the bulletin board described in subsection 
(a) and in a conspicuous place near each staffed entrance onto the mine 
property, a notice stating, in a form and manner to be prescribed by 
the Secretary--
            ``(1) that it is unlawful pursuant to section 110(e) for 
        any person, with the intent to impede, interfere with, or 
        frustrate an inspection conducted or to be conducted under this 
        Act, to engage in, or direct another person to engage in, any 
        conduct that a reasonable person would expect to result in 
        advance notice of such inspection; and
            ``(2) the maximum penalties for a violation under such 
        subsection.''.

SEC. 304. COMMISSION REVIEW OF PENALTY ASSESSMENTS.

    Section 110(i) (30 U.S.C. 820(i)) is amended by striking ``In 
assessing civil monetary penalties, the Commission shall consider'' and 
inserting the following: ``In any review of a citation and proposed 
penalty assessment contested by an operator, the Commission shall 
assess not less than the penalty derived by using the same methodology 
(including any point system) prescribed in regulations under this Act, 
so as to ensure consistency in operator penalty assessments, except 
that the Commission may assess a penalty for less than the amount that 
would result from the utilization of such methodology if the Commission 
finds that there are extraordinary circumstances. If there is no such 
methodology prescribed for a citation or there are such extraordinary 
circumstances, the Commission shall assess the penalty by 
considering''.

SEC. 305. DELINQUENT PAYMENTS AND PREJUDGMENT INTEREST.

    (a) Pre-Final Order Interest.--Section 110(j) (30 U.S.C. 820(j)) is 
amended by striking the second and third sentences and inserting the 
following: ``Pre-final order interest on such penalties shall begin to 
accrue on the date the operator contests a citation issued under this 
Act, including any mandatory health or safety standard or regulation 
promulgated under this Act, and shall end upon the issuance of the 
final order. Such pre-final order interest shall be calculated at the 
current underpayment rate determined by the Secretary of the Treasury 
pursuant to section 6621 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and 
shall be compounded daily. Post-final order interest shall begin to 
accrue 30 days after the date a final order of the Commission or the 
court is issued, and shall be charged at the rate of 8 percent per 
annum.''.
    (b) Ensuring Payment of Penalties.--
            (1) Amendments.--Section 110 (30 U.S.C. 820) is further 
        amended--
                    (A) by redesignating subsection (l) as subsection 
                (m); and
                    (B) by inserting after subsection (k) the 
                following:
    ``(l) Ensuring Payment of Penalties.--
            ``(1) Delinquent payment letter.--If the operator of a coal 
        or other mine fails to pay any civil penalty assessment that 
        has become a final order of the Commission or a court within 45 
        days after such assessment became a final order, the Secretary 
        shall send the operator a letter advising the operator of the 
        consequences under this subsection of such failure to pay. The 
        letter shall also advise the operator of the opportunity to 
        enter into or modify a payment plan with the Secretary based 
        upon a demonstrated inability to pay, the procedure for 
        entering into such plan, and the consequences of not entering 
        into or not complying with such plan.
            ``(2) Withdrawal orders following failure to pay.--If an 
        operator that receives a letter under paragraph (1) has not 
        paid the assessment by the date that is 180 days after such 
        assessment became a final order and has not entered into a 
        payment plan with the Secretary, the Secretary shall issue an 
        order requiring such operator to cause all persons, except 
        those referred to in section 104(c), to be withdrawn from, and 
        to be prohibited from entering, the mine that is covered by the 
        final order described in paragraph (1), until the operator pays 
        such assessment in full (including interest and administrative 
        costs) or enters into a payment plan with the Secretary. If 
        such operator enters into a payment plan with the Secretary and 
        at any time fails to comply with the terms specified in such 
        payment plan, the Secretary shall issue an order requiring such 
        operator to cause all persons, except those referred to in 
        section 104(c), to be withdrawn from the mine that is covered 
        by such final order, and to be prohibited from entering such 
        mine, until the operator rectifies the noncompliance with the 
        payment plan in the manner specified in such payment plan.''.
            (2) Applicability and effective date.--The amendments made 
        by paragraph (1) shall apply to all unpaid civil penalty 
        assessments under the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 
        1977 (30 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), except that, for any unpaid civil 
        penalty assessment that became a final order of the Commission 
        or a court before the date of enactment of this Act, the time 
        periods under section 110(l) of the Federal Mine Safety and 
        Health Act of 1977 (as amended) (30 U.S.C. 820(l)) shall be 
        calculated as beginning on the date of enactment of this Act 
        instead of on the date of the final order.

                TITLE IV--MINERS' RIGHTS AND PROTECTIONS

SEC. 401. PROTECTION FROM RETALIATION.

    Section 105(c) (30 U.S.C. 815(c)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(c) Protection From Retaliation.--
            ``(1) Retaliation prohibited.--
                    ``(A) Retaliation for complaint or testimony.--No 
                person shall discharge or in any manner discriminate 
                against or cause to be discharged or cause 
                discrimination against or otherwise interfere with the 
                exercise of the statutory rights of any miner or other 
                employee of an operator, representative of miners, or 
                applicant for employment (including the spouse, 
                sibling, child, or parent of such miner or employee, if 
                such individual is employed or is applying for 
                employment at a mine under the control of the 
                operator), because--
                            ``(i) such miner or other employee, 
                        representative, or applicant for employment--
                                    ``(I) has filed or made a 
                                complaint, or is about to file or make 
                                a complaint, including a complaint 
                                notifying the operator or the 
                                operator's agent, or the representative 
                                of the miners at the coal or other mine 
                                of an alleged danger or safety or 
                                health violation in a coal or other 
                                mine;
                                    ``(II) instituted or caused to be 
                                instituted, or is about to institute or 
                                cause to be instituted, any proceeding 
                                under or related to this Act or has 
                                testified or is about to testify in any 
                                such proceeding or because of the 
                                exercise by such miner or other 
                                employee, representative, or applicant 
                                for employment on behalf of him or 
                                herself or others of any right afforded 
                                by this Act, or has reported any injury 
                                or illness to an operator or agent;
                                    ``(III) has testified or is about 
                                to testify before Congress or any 
                                Federal or State proceeding related to 
                                safety or health in a coal or other 
                                mine; or
                                    ``(IV) refused to violate any 
                                provision of this Act, including any 
                                mandatory health and safety standard or 
                                regulation;
                            ``(ii) such miner is the subject of medical 
                        evaluations and potential transfer under a 
                        standard published pursuant to section 101; or
                            ``(iii) where the discharge, discrimination 
                        or other retaliation was based on a suspicion 
                        or belief that such miner or other employee, 
                        representative, or applicant engaged in or is 
                        about to engage in any of the activities 
                        described in clause (i).
                    ``(B) Retaliation for refusal to perform duties.--
                            ``(i) In general.--No person shall 
                        discharge or in any manner discriminate against 
                        a miner or other employee of an operator for 
                        refusing to perform the miner's or other 
                        employee's duties if the miner or other 
                        employee has a good-faith and reasonable belief 
                        that performing such duties would pose a safety 
                        or health hazard to the miner or other employee 
                        or to any other miner or employee.
                            ``(ii) Standard.--For purposes of clause 
                        (i), the circumstances causing the miner's or 
                        other employee's good-faith belief that 
                        performing such duties would pose a safety or 
                        health hazard shall be of such a nature that a 
                        reasonable person, under the circumstances 
                        confronting the miner or other employee, would 
                        conclude that there is such a hazard. In order 
                        to qualify for protection under this paragraph, 
                        the miner or other employee, when practicable, 
                        shall have communicated or attempted to 
                        communicate the safety or health concern to the 
                        operator and have not received from the 
                        operator a response reasonably calculated to 
                        allay such concern.
            ``(2) Complaint.--Any miner or other employee or 
        representative of miners or applicant for employment who 
        believes that he or she has been discharged, disciplined, or 
        otherwise discriminated against by any person in violation of 
        paragraph (1) may file a complaint with the Secretary alleging 
        such discrimination not later than 180 days after the later 
        of--
                    ``(A) the last date on which an alleged violation 
                of paragraph (1) occurs; or
                    ``(B) the date on which the miner or other employee 
                or representative knows or should reasonably have known 
                that such alleged violation occurred.
            ``(3) Investigation and hearing.--
                    ``(A) Commencement of investigation and initial 
                determination.--Upon receipt of such complaint, the 
                Secretary shall forward a copy of the complaint to the 
                respondent, and shall commence an investigation within 
                15 days of the Secretary's receipt of the complaint, 
                and, as soon as practicable after commencing such 
                investigation, make the determination required under 
                subparagraph (B) regarding the reinstatement of the 
                miner or other employee.
                    ``(B) Reinstatement.--If the Secretary finds that 
                such complaint was not frivolously brought, the 
                Commission, on an expedited basis upon application of 
                the Secretary, shall order the immediate reinstatement 
                of the miner or other employee until there has been a 
                final Commission order disposing of the underlying 
                complaint of the miner or other employee. If either the 
                Secretary or the miner or other employee pursues the 
                underlying complaint, such reinstatement shall remain 
                in effect until the Commission has disposed of such 
                complaint on the merits, regardless of whether the 
                Secretary pursues such complaint by filing a complaint 
                under subparagraph (D) or the miner or other employee 
                pursues such complaint by filing an action under 
                paragraph (4). If neither the Secretary nor the miner 
                or other employee pursues the underlying complaint 
                within the periods specified in paragraph (4), such 
                reinstatement shall remain in effect until such time as 
                the Commission may, upon motion of the operator and 
                after providing notice and an opportunity to be heard 
                to the parties, vacate such complaint for failure to 
                prosecute.
                    ``(C) Investigation.--Such investigation shall 
                include interviewing the complainant and--
                            ``(i) providing the respondent an 
                        opportunity to submit to the Secretary a 
                        written response to the complaint and to 
                        present statements from witnesses or provide 
                        evidence; and
                            ``(ii) providing the complainant an 
                        opportunity to receive any statements or 
                        evidence provided to the Secretary and to 
                        provide additional information or evidence, or 
                        to rebut any statements or evidence.
                    ``(D) Action by the secretary.--If, upon such 
                investigation, the Secretary determines that the 
                provisions of this subsection have been violated, the 
                Secretary shall immediately file a complaint with the 
                Commission, with service upon the alleged violator and 
                the miner or other employee, representative of miners, 
                or applicant for employment alleging such 
                discrimination or interference and propose an order 
                granting appropriate relief.
                    ``(E) Action of the commission.--The Commission 
                shall afford an opportunity for a hearing on the record 
                (in accordance with section 554 of title 5, United 
                States Code, but without regard to subsection (a)(3) of 
                such section) and thereafter shall issue an order, 
                based upon findings of fact, affirming, modifying, or 
                vacating the Secretary's proposed order, or directing 
                other appropriate relief. Such order shall become final 
                30 days after its issuance. The complaining miner or 
                other employee, representative, or applicant for 
                employment may present additional evidence on his or 
                her own behalf during any hearing held pursuant to this 
                paragraph.
                    ``(F) Relief.--The Commission shall have authority 
                in such proceedings to require a person committing a 
                violation of this subsection to take such affirmative 
                action to abate the violation and prescribe a remedy as 
                the Commission considers appropriate, including--
                            ``(i) the rehiring or reinstatement of the 
                        miner or other employee with back pay and 
                        interest and without loss of position or 
                        seniority, and restoration of the terms, 
                        rights, conditions, and privileges associated 
                        with the complainant's employment;
                            ``(ii) any other compensatory and 
                        consequential damages sufficient to make the 
                        complainant whole, and exemplary damages where 
                        appropriate; and
                            ``(iii) expungement of all warnings, 
                        reprimands, or derogatory references that have 
                        been placed in paper or electronic records or 
                        databases of any type relating to the actions 
                        by the complainant that gave rise to the 
                        unfavorable personnel action, and, at the 
                        complainant's direction, transmission of a copy 
                        of the decision on the complaint to any person 
                        whom the complainant reasonably believes may 
                        have received such unfavorable information.
            ``(4) Notice to and action of complainant.--
                    ``(A) Notice to complainant.--Not later than 90 
                days of the receipt of a complaint filed under 
                paragraph (2), the Secretary shall notify, in writing, 
                the miner or other employee, applicant for employment, 
                or representative of miners of his determination 
                whether a violation has occurred.
                    ``(B) Action of complainant.--If the Secretary, 
                upon investigation, determines that the provisions of 
                this subsection have not been violated, the complainant 
                shall have the right, within 30 days after receiving 
                notice of the Secretary's determination, to file an 
                action in his or her own behalf before the Commission, 
                charging discrimination or interference in violation of 
                paragraph (1).
                    ``(C) Hearing and decision.--The Commission shall 
                afford an opportunity for a hearing on the record (in 
                accordance with section 554 of title 5, United States 
                Code, but without regard to subsection (a)(3) of such 
                section), and thereafter shall issue an order, based 
                upon findings of fact, dismissing or sustaining the 
                complainant's charges and, if the charges are 
                sustained, granting such relief as it deems appropriate 
                as described in paragraph (3)(F). Such order shall 
                become final 30 days after its issuance.
            ``(5) Burden of proof.--In adjudicating a complaint 
        pursuant to this subsection, the Commission may determine that 
        a violation of paragraph (1) has occurred only if the 
        complainant demonstrates that any conduct described in 
        paragraph (1) with respect to the complainant was a 
        contributing factor in the adverse action alleged in the 
        complaint. A decision or order that is favorable to the 
        complainant shall not be issued pursuant to this subsection if 
        the respondent demonstrates by clear and convincing evidence 
        that the respondent would have taken the same adverse action in 
        the absence of such conduct.
            ``(6) Attorneys' fees.--Whenever an order is issued 
        sustaining the complainant's charges under this subsection, a 
        sum equal to the aggregate amount of all costs and expenses, 
        including attorney's fees, as determined by the Commission to 
        have been reasonably incurred by the complainant for, or in 
        connection with, the institution and prosecution of such 
        proceedings shall be assessed against the person committing 
        such violation. The Commission shall determine whether such 
        costs and expenses were reasonably incurred by the complainant 
        without reference to whether the Secretary also participated in 
        the proceeding.
            ``(7) Expedited proceedings; judicial review.--Proceedings 
        under this subsection shall be expedited by the Secretary and 
        the Commission. Any order issued by the Commission under this 
        subsection shall be subject to judicial review in accordance 
        with section 106. Violations by any person of paragraph (1) 
        shall be subject to the provisions of sections 108 and 
        110(a)(4).
            ``(8) Procedural rights.--The rights and remedies provided 
        for in this subsection may not be waived by any agreement, 
        policy, form, or condition of employment, including by any pre-
        dispute arbitration agreement or collective bargaining 
        agreement.
            ``(9) Savings.--Nothing in this subsection shall be 
        construed to diminish the rights, privileges, or remedies of 
        any miner or employee who exercises rights under any Federal or 
        State law or common law, or under any collective bargaining 
        agreement.''.

SEC. 402. PROTECTION FROM LOSS OF PAY.

    Section 111 (30 U.S.C. 821) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 111. ENTITLEMENT OF MINERS.

    ``(a) Protection From Loss of Pay.--
            ``(1) Withdrawal orders.--If a coal or other mine or area 
        of such mine is closed by an order issued under section 103, 
        104, 107, 108, or 110, all miners working during the shift when 
        such order was issued who are idled by such order shall be 
        entitled, regardless of the result of any review of such order, 
        to full compensation by the operator at their regular rates of 
        pay for the period they are idled, but for not more than the 
        balance of such shift. If such order is not terminated prior to 
        the next working shift, all miners on that shift who are idled 
        by such order shall be entitled to full compensation by the 
        operator at their regular rates of pay for the period they are 
        idled, for not more than one half of such shift, or four hours, 
        whichever is greater. If a coal or other mine or area of such 
        mine is closed by an order issued under section 104, 107 (in 
        connection with a citation), 108, or 110, all miners who are 
        idled by such order shall be entitled, regardless of the result 
        of any review of such order, to full compensation by the 
        operator at their regular rates of pay and in accordance with 
        their regular schedules of pay for the entire period for which 
        they are idled, not to exceed 60 days.
            ``(2) Closure in advance of order.--If the Secretary finds 
        that such mine or such area of a mine was closed by the 
        operator in anticipation of the issuance of such an order, all 
        miners who are idled by such closure shall be entitled to full 
        compensation by the operator at their regular rates of pay and 
        in accordance with their regular schedules of pay, from the 
        time of such closure until such time as the Secretary 
        authorizes reopening of such mine or such area of the mine, not 
        to exceed 60 days, except where an operator promptly withdraws 
        miners upon discovery of a hazard, and notifies the Secretary 
        where required, and within the prescribed time period.
            ``(3) Refusal to comply.--Whenever an operator violates or 
        fails or refuses to comply with any order issued under section 
        103, 104, 107, 108, or 110, all miners employed at the affected 
        mine who would have been withdrawn from, or prevented from 
        entering, such mine or area thereof as a result of such order 
        shall be entitled to full compensation by the operator at their 
        regular rates of pay, in addition to pay received for work 
        performed after such order was issued, for the period beginning 
        when such order was issued and ending when such order is 
        complied with, vacated, or terminated.
    ``(b) Enforcement.--
            ``(1) Commission orders.--The Commission shall have 
        authority to order compensation due under this section upon the 
        filing of a complaint by a miner or his representative and 
        after opportunity for hearing on the record subject to section 
        554 of title 5, United States Code. Whenever the Commission 
        issues an order sustaining the complaint under this subsection 
        in whole or in part, the Commission shall award the complainant 
        reasonable attorneys' fees and costs.
            ``(2) Failure to pay compensation due.--Consistent with the 
        authority of the Secretary to order miners withdrawn from a 
        mine under this Act, the Secretary shall order a mine that has 
        been subject to a withdrawal order under section 103, 104, 107, 
        108, or 110, and has reopened, to be closed again if 
        compensation in accordance with the provisions of this section 
        is not paid by the end of the next regularly scheduled payroll 
        period following the lifting of a withdrawal order.
    ``(c) Expedited Review.--If an order is issued which results in 
payments to miners under subsection (a), the operators shall have the 
right to an expedited review before the Commission using timelines and 
procedures established pursuant to section 316(b)(2)(G)(ii).''.

SEC. 403. UNDERGROUND COAL MINER EMPLOYMENT STANDARD FOR MINES PLACED 
              IN PATTERN OF VIOLATIONS STATUS.

    The Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 is further amended 
by adding at the end of title I the following:

``SEC. 117. UNDERGROUND COAL MINER EMPLOYMENT STANDARD FOR MINES PLACED 
              IN PATTERN OF VIOLATIONS STATUS.

    ``(a) In General.--For purposes of ensuring miners' health and 
safety and miners' right to raise concerns thereof, when an underground 
coal mine is placed in pattern of violations status pursuant to section 
104(e), and for 3 years after such placement, the operator of such mine 
may not discharge or constructively discharge a miner who is paid on an 
hourly basis and employed at such underground coal mine without 
reasonable job-related grounds based on a failure to satisfactorily 
perform job duties, including compliance with this Act and with 
mandatory health and safety standards or other regulations issued under 
this Act, or other legitimate business reason, where the miner has 
completed the employer's probationary period, not to exceed 6 months.
    ``(b) Cause of Action.--A miner aggrieved by a violation of 
subsection (a) may file a complaint in Federal district court in the 
district where the mine is located within 1 year of such violation.
    ``(c) Remedies.--In an action under subsection (b), for any 
prevailing miner the court shall take affirmative action to further the 
purposes of the Act, which may include reinstatement with backpay and 
compensatory damages. Reasonable attorneys' fees and costs shall be 
awarded to any prevailing miner under this section.
    ``(d) Pre-Dispute Waiver Prohibited.--A miner's right to a cause of 
action under this section may not be waived with respect to disputes 
that have not arisen as of the time of the waiver.
    ``(e) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to 
limit the availability of rights and remedies of miners under any other 
State or Federal law or a collective bargaining agreement.''.

            TITLE V--MODERNIZING HEALTH AND SAFETY STANDARDS

SEC. 501. PRE-SHIFT REVIEW OF MINE CONDITIONS.

    Section 303(d) (30 U.S.C. 863(d)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:
    ``(3)(A) Not later than 30 days after the issuance of the interim 
final rules promulgated under subparagraph (B), each operator of an 
underground coal mine shall implement a communication program at the 
underground coal mine to ensure that each miner is orally briefed on 
and made aware of, prior to traveling to or arriving at the miner's 
work area and commencing the miner's assigned tasks--
            ``(i) any conditions that are hazardous, or that violate a 
        mandatory health or safety standard or a plan approved under 
        this Act, where the miner is expected to work or travel; and
            ``(ii) the general conditions of that miner's assigned 
        working section or other area where the miner is expected to 
        work or travel.
    ``(B) Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the 
Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety Protection Act of 2017, the Secretary shall 
promulgate interim final rules implementing the requirements of 
subparagraph (A). The Secretary shall issue a final rule not later than 
2 years after such date.''.

SEC. 502. ROCK DUST STANDARDS.

    (a) Standards.--Section 304(d) (30 U.S.C. 864(d)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``Where rock'' and inserting the following: 
        ``Rock Dust.--
            ``(1) In general.--Where rock'';
            (2) by striking ``65 per centum'' and all that follows and 
        inserting ``80 percent. Where methane is present in any 
        ventilating current, the percentage of incombustible content of 
        such combined dusts shall be increased 0.4 percent for each 0.1 
        percent of methane.''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Methods of measurement.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Each operator of an underground 
                coal mine shall take accurate and representative 
                samples which shall measure the total incombustible 
                content of combined coal dust, rock dust, and other 
                dust in such mine to ensure that the coal dust is kept 
                below explosive levels through the appropriate 
                application of rock dust.
                    ``(B) Direct reading monitors.--In order to ensure 
                timely assessment and compliance, the Secretary shall, 
                not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of 
                the Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety Protection Act of 2017, 
                require operators to measure total incombustible 
                content (or an equivalent measure of explosibility) in 
                samples of combined coal dust, rock dust, and other 
                dust, using direct reading monitors that the Secretary 
                has approved for use in an underground coal mine, such 
                as coal dust explosibility monitors.
                    ``(C) Regulations.--The Secretary shall, not later 
                than 180 days after the date of enactment of the Robert 
                C. Byrd Mine Safety Protection Act of 2017, promulgate 
                an interim final rule that prescribes methods for 
                operator sampling of total incombustible content (or an 
                equivalent measure of explosibility) in samples of 
                combined coal dust, rock dust, and other dust using 
                direct reading monitors and includes requirements for 
                locations, methods, and intervals for mandatory 
                operator sampling.
                    ``(D) Recommendations.--Not later than 1 year after 
                the date of enactment of the Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety 
                Protection Act of 2017, the Secretary of Health and 
                Human Services shall, based upon the latest research, 
                recommend to the Secretary of Labor any revisions to 
                the mandatory operator sampling locations, methods, and 
                intervals included in the interim final rule described 
                in subparagraph (B) that may be warranted in light of 
                such research.
            ``(3) Limitation.--Until a final rule is issued by the 
        Secretary under section 502(b)(2) of the Robert C. Byrd Mine 
        Safety Protection Act of 2017, any measurement taken by a 
        direct reading monitor described in paragraph (2) shall not be 
        admissible to establish a violation in an enforcement action 
        under this Act.
            ``(4) Report and rulemaking authority.--
                    ``(A) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the 
                date of enactment of the Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety 
                Protection Act of 2017, the Secretary of Health and 
                Human Services, in consultation with the Secretary of 
                Labor, shall prepare and submit, to the Committee on 
                Education and the Workforce of the House of 
                Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, 
                Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, a report--
                            ``(i) regarding whether any direct reading 
                        monitor described in paragraph (2)(B) is 
                        sufficiently reliable and accurate for the 
                        enforcement of the mandatory health or safety 
                        standards by the Secretary of Labor under such 
                        Act, and whether additional improvement to such 
                        direct reading monitor, or additional 
                        verification regarding reliability and 
                        accuracy, would be needed for enforcement 
                        purposes; and
                            ``(ii) identifying any limitations or 
                        impediments for such use in underground coal 
                        mines.
                    ``(B) Authority.--If the Secretary determines that 
                such direct reading monitor is sufficiently reliable 
                and accurate for the enforcement of mandatory health 
                and safety standards under this Act following such 
                report or any update thereto, the Secretary shall 
                promulgate a final rule authorizing the use of such 
                direct reading monitor for purposes of compliance and 
                enforcement, in addition to other methods for 
                determining total incombustible content. Such rule 
                shall specify mandatory operator sampling locations, 
                methods, and intervals.''.
    (b) Rock Dust Recordkeeping.--Section 304 is further amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (f) and 
        inserting after subsection (d) the following:
    ``(e) Rock Dust Recordkeeping.--Each coal mine shall be required to 
maintain and continuously update a record of the amount of rock dust 
purchased.''; and
            (2) in subsection (f) (as so redesignated), by striking 
        ``Subsection (b) through (d)'' and inserting ``Subsections (b) 
        through (e)''.

SEC. 503. ATMOSPHERIC MONITORING SYSTEMS.

    Section 317 (30 U.S.C. 877) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:
    ``(u) Atmospheric Monitoring Systems.--
            ``(1) Regulations required.--Not later than 1 year after 
        the date of enactment of the Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety 
        Protection Act of 2017, the Secretary shall, following 
        consultation with the National Institute for Occupational 
        Safety and Health, promulgate regulations requiring that each 
        operator of an underground coal mine install atmospheric 
        monitoring systems that--
                    ``(A) protect miners where the miners normally work 
                and travel;
                    ``(B) will assist in mine emergency response and 
                the conduct of accident investigations;
                    ``(C) provide real-time information regarding 
                methane, oxygen, and carbon monoxide levels, and 
                airflow direction, as appropriate, with sensing, 
                annunciating, and recording capabilities; and
                    ``(D) can, to the maximum extent practicable, 
                withstand explosions and fires.
            ``(2) Content of regulations.--The Secretary shall evaluate 
        and, as appropriate, require--
                    ``(A) the installation of atmospheric monitoring 
                and recording devices on mining equipment;
                    ``(B) the implementation of redundant systems, such 
                as the bundle tubing system, that can continuously 
                monitor the mine atmosphere following incidents such as 
                fires, explosions, entrapments, and inundations; and
                    ``(C) the implementation of other technologies 
                available to conduct continuous atmospheric 
                monitoring.''.

SEC. 504. STUDY ON RESPIRABLE DUST STANDARDS.

    Section 202 of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (30 
U.S.C. 842) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(i) Reports.--
            ``(1) Study.--Beginning August 1, 2021, the Secretary of 
        Labor shall undertake a retrospective study that evaluates the 
        effectiveness of the Department of Labor's final rule entitled 
        `Lowering Miners' Exposure to Respirable Coal Mine Dust, 
        Including Continuous Personal Dust Monitors' (published May 1, 
        2014; 79 Fed. Reg. 24813), the data regarding the use of 
        continuous personal dust monitors (in this paragraph referred 
        to as `CPDM'), and the rising number of cases of progressive 
        massive fibrosis (PMF) to determine whether--
                    ``(A) the 1.5 mg/m\3\ respirable dust standard that 
                was included in the final rule should be further 
                lowered to better protect miners' health;
                    ``(B) the 100 mg/m<SUP>3 </SUP>standard for quartz 
                (crystalline silica) in respirable dust should be 
                lowered to better protect better protect miners' 
                health;
                    ``(C) the frequency of CPDM sampling should be 
                increased;
                    ``(D) engineering controls and work practices used 
                by mine operators to achieve and maintain the required 
                respirable coal mine dust levels should be modified;
                    ``(E) samples taken on shifts longer than 8 hours 
                should be converted to an 8-hour equivalent 
                concentration to protect miners who work longer shifts; 
                and
                    ``(F) research and development should be undertaken 
                to modify the CPDM to provide real time data on 
                exposure to respirable quartz.
            ``(2) Completion deadline.--Not later than August 1, 2022, 
        the Secretary shall transmit a report of the study required 
        under paragraph (1) to the Committee on Health, Education, 
        Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives.
            ``(3) Subsequent studies.--By August 1, 2025, and every 3 
        years thereafter, the Secretary shall conduct a new study as 
        described in paragraph (1) and report, by not later than one 
        year after the commencement of the study, the findings of such 
        study to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
        Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Education and the 
        Workforce of the House of Representatives.
            ``(4) Revised standards.--If any report of the Secretary 
        under this subsection concludes that the applicable standard 
        for respirable dust concentration should be lowered to protect 
        the health of miners, or that the incidence of pneumoconiosis 
        among coal miners in the United States, as reported by the 
        National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, has not 
        been reduced from such incidence prior to the implementation of 
        the most recent applicable standard for respirable dust 
        concentration, the Secretary shall, consistent with the 
        requirements of this section and section 101, accordingly 
        revise such standard and any applicable sampling or testing 
        procedures not later than 24 months after the publication of 
        such report of the Secretary under this subsection.''.

SEC. 505. REFRESHER TRAINING ON MINERS' RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

    (a) In General.--Section 115(a)(3) (30 U.S.C. 825(a)(3)) is amended 
to read as follows:
            ``(3) all miners shall receive not less than 9 hours of 
        refresher training not less frequently than once every 12 
        months, and such training shall include one hour of training on 
        the statutory rights and responsibilities of miners and their 
        representatives under this Act and other applicable Federal and 
        State law, pursuant to a program of instruction developed by 
        the Secretary and delivered by an employee of the 
        Administration or by a trainer approved by the Administration 
        that is a party independent from the operator;''.
    (b) National Hazard Reporting Hotline.--Section 115 (30 U.S.C. 825) 
is further amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsections (c) through (e) as 
        subsections (d) through (f), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
    ``(c) Any health and safety training program of instruction 
provided under this section shall include distribution to miners of 
information regarding miners' rights under the Act, as well as a toll-
free hotline telephone number, which the Secretary shall maintain to 
receive complaints from miners and the public regarding hazardous 
conditions, discrimination, safety or health violations, or other mine 
safety or health concerns. Information regarding the hotline shall be 
provided in a portable, convenient format, such as a durable wallet 
card, to enable miners to keep the information on their person.''.
    (c) Timing of Initial Statutory Rights Training.--Notwithstanding 
section 115 of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act (as amended by 
subsection (a)) (30 U.S.C. 825) or the health and safety training 
program approved under such section, an operator shall ensure that all 
miners already employed by the operator on the date of enactment of 
this Act shall receive the one hour of statutory rights and 
responsibilities training described in section 115(a)(3) of such Act 
not later than 180 days after such date.

SEC. 506. AUTHORITY TO MANDATE ADDITIONAL TRAINING.

    (a) In General.--Section 115 (30 U.S.C. 825) is further amended by 
redesignating subsections (e) and (f) (as redesignated) as subsections 
(f) and (g) and inserting after subsection (d) (as redesignated) the 
following:
    ``(e) Authority To Mandate Additional Training.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to issue an 
        order requiring that an operator of a coal or other mine 
        provide additional training beyond what is otherwise required 
        by law, and specifying the time within which such training 
        shall be provided, if the Secretary finds that--
                    ``(A)(i) a serious or fatal accident has occurred 
                at such mine;
                    ``(ii) such mine has experienced accident and 
                injury rates, citations for violations of this Act 
                (including mandatory health or safety standards or 
                regulations promulgated under this Act), citations for 
                significant and substantial violations, or withdrawal 
                orders issued under this Act at a rate above the 
                average for mines of similar size and type; or
                    ``(iii) an operator has a history of failing to 
                adequately train miners as required by the Act or 
                regulations promulgated under this Act; and
                    ``(B) additional training would benefit the health 
                and safety of miners at the mine.
            ``(2) Withdrawal order.--If the operator fails to provide 
        training ordered under paragraph (1) within the specified time, 
        the Secretary shall issue an order requiring such operator to 
        cause all affected persons, except those persons referred to in 
        section 104(c), to be withdrawn, and to be prohibited from 
        entering such mine, until such operator has provided such 
        training.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 104(g)(2) (30 U.S.C. 814(g)(2)) 
is amended by striking ``under paragraph (1)'' both places it appears 
and inserting ``under paragraph (1) or under section 115(e)''.

SEC. 507. BROOKWOOD-SAGO MINE SAFETY GRANTS.

    Section 14(e)(2) of the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response 
Act of 2006 (30 U.S.C. 965(e)(2)) is amended by inserting before the 
period ``, and underground mine rescue training activities which 
simulate mine accident conditions''.

SEC. 508. CERTIFICATION OF PERSONNEL.

    (a) In General.--Title I is further amended by adding at the end 
the following:

``SEC. 118. CERTIFICATION OF PERSONNEL.

    ``(a) Certification Required.--Any person who is authorized or 
designated by the operator of a coal or other mine to perform any 
duties or provide any training that this Act, including a mandatory 
health or safety standard or regulation promulgated pursuant to this 
Act, requires to be performed or provided by a certified, registered, 
qualified, or otherwise approved person, shall be permitted to perform 
such duties or provide such training only if such person has a current 
certification, registration, qualification, or approval to perform such 
duties or provide such training consistent with the requirements of 
this section.
    ``(b) Establishment of Certification Requirements and Procedures.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of the Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety Protection Act of 
        2017, the Secretary shall issue mandatory standards to 
        establish--
                    ``(A) requirements for such certification, 
                registration, qualification, or other approval, 
                including the experience, examinations, and references 
                that may be required as appropriate;
                    ``(B) time limits for such certifications and 
                procedures for obtaining and renewing such 
                certification, registration, qualification, or other 
                approval; and
                    ``(C) procedures and criteria for revoking such 
                certification, registration, qualification, or other 
                approval, including procedures that ensure that the 
                Secretary (or a State agency, as applicable) responds 
                to requests for revocation and that the names of 
                individuals whose certification or other approval has 
                been revoked are provided to and maintained by the 
                Secretary, and are made available to appropriate State 
                agencies through an electronic database.
            ``(2) Coordination with states.--In developing such 
        standards, the Secretary shall consult with States that have 
        miner certification programs to ensure effective coordination 
        with existing State standards and requirements for 
        certification. The standards required under paragraph (1) shall 
        provide that the certification, registration, qualification, or 
        other approval of the State in which the coal or other mine is 
        located satisfies the requirement of subsection (a) if the 
        State's program of certification, registration, qualification, 
        or other approval is no less stringent than the standards 
        established by the Secretary under paragraph (1).
    ``(c) Operator Fees for Certification.--
            ``(1) Assessment and collection.--Beginning 180 days after 
        the date of enactment of the Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety 
        Protection Act of 2017, the Secretary shall assess and collect 
        fees, in accordance with this subsection, from each operator 
        for each person certified under this section. Fees shall be 
        assessed and collected in amounts determined by the Secretary 
        as necessary to fund the certification programs established 
        under this section.
            ``(2) Use.--Amounts collected as provided in paragraph (1) 
        shall only be available to the Secretary, as provided in 
        paragraph (3), for making expenditures to carry out the 
        certification programs established under this subsection.
            ``(3) Authorization of appropriations.--In addition to 
        funds authorized to be appropriated under section 114, there is 
        authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for each fiscal 
        year in which fees are collected under paragraph (1) an amount 
        equal to the total amount of fees collected under paragraph (1) 
        during that fiscal year. Such amounts are authorized to remain 
        available until expended. If on the first day of a fiscal year 
        a regular appropriation to the Administration has not been 
        enacted, the Administration shall continue to collect fees (as 
        offsetting collections) under this subsection at the rate in 
        effect during the preceding fiscal year, until 5 days after the 
        date such regular appropriation is enacted.
            ``(4) Collecting and crediting of fees.--Fees authorized 
        and collected under this subsection shall be deposited and 
        credited as offsetting collections to the account providing 
        appropriations to the Mine Safety and Health Administration and 
        shall not be collected for any fiscal year except to the extent 
        and in the amount provided in advance in appropriation Acts.
    ``(d) Citation; Withdrawal Order.--Any operator who permits a 
person to perform any of the health or safety related functions 
described in subsection (a) without a current certification which meets 
the requirements of this section shall be considered to have committed 
an unwarrantable failure under section 104(d)(1), and the Secretary 
shall issue an order requiring that the miner be withdrawn or 
reassigned to duties that do not require such certification.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--Section 318 (30 U.S.C. 878) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking subsections (a) and (b);
            (2) in subsection (c), by redesignating paragraphs (1) 
        through (3) as subparagraphs (A) through (C), respectively;
            (3) in subsection (g), by redesignating paragraphs (1) 
        through (4) as subparagraphs (A) through (D), respectively; and
            (4) by redesignating subsections (c) through (j) as 
        paragraphs (1) through (8), respectively.

SEC. 509. ELECTRONIC RECORDS REQUIREMENT.

    Section 103 is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(l) Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of the 
Act, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations requiring that mine 
operators retain records and data required by this Act, or otherwise 
required by the Secretary, that are created, stored or transmitted in 
electronic form. Such records shall include records pertaining to miner 
safety and health, tracking and communications, atmospheric monitoring 
of methane, carbon monoxide, oxygen, coal dust and other mine 
conditions, equipment usage history and operating parameters, equipment 
calibration and maintenance, and other information relevant to 
compliance with Federal mine health and safety laws and regulations. 
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the Act, the 
Secretary shall promulgate a regulation regarding the minimum necessary 
capabilities of equipment to retain, store, and recover data created or 
transmitted in electronic form.''.

              TITLE VI--ADDITIONAL MINE SAFETY PROVISIONS

SEC. 601. DEFINITIONS.

    (a) Definition of Operator.--Section 3(d) is amended to read as 
follows:
            ``(d) `operator' means--
                    ``(1) any owner, lessee, or other person that--
                            ``(A) operates or supervises a coal or 
                        other mine; or
                            ``(B) controls such mine by making or 
                        having the authority to make management or 
                        operational decisions that affect, directly or 
                        indirectly, the health or safety at such mine; 
                        or
                    ``(2) any independent contractor performing 
                services or construction at such mine;''.
    (b) Definition of Agent.--Section 3(e) (30 U.S.C. 802(e)) is 
amended by striking ``the miners'' and inserting ``any miner''.
    (c) Definition of Imminent Danger.--Section 3(j) (30 U.S.C. 802(j)) 
is amended--
            (1) by striking ``means the'' and inserting ``means--
            ``(1) the'';
            (2) by striking the semicolon at the end and inserting ``; 
        or''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) the existence of multiple conditions or practices 
        (regardless of whether related to each other) that, when 
        considered in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to 
        cause death or serious physical harm before such conditions or 
        practices can be abated;''.
    (d) Definition of Miner.--Section 3(g) (30 U.S.C. 802(g)) is 
amended by inserting after ``or other mine'' the following: ``, and 
includes any individual who is not currently working in a coal or other 
mine but would be currently working in such mine, but for an accident 
in such mine''.
    (e) Definition of Significant and Substantial Violations.--Section 
3 (30 U.S.C. 802) is further amended--
            (1) in subsection (m), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in subsection (n), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting a semicolon;
            (3) in subsection (o), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(p) `significant and substantial violation' means a 
        violation of this Act, including any mandatory health or safety 
        standard or regulation promulgated under this Act, that is of 
        such nature as could significantly and substantially contribute 
        to the cause and effect of a coal or other mine safety or 
        health hazard as described in section 104(d).''.

SEC. 602. ASSISTANCE TO STATES.

    Section 503 (30 U.S.C. 953(a)) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
                striking ``, in coordination with the Secretary of 
                Health, Education, and Welfare and the Secretary of the 
                Interior,'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' after the 
                semicolon;
                    (C) in paragraph (3), by striking the period and 
                inserting ``; and''; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) to assist such State in developing and implementing 
        any certification program for coal or other mines required for 
        compliance with section 118.''; and
            (2) in subsection (h), by striking ``$3,000,000 for fiscal 
        year 1970, and $10,000,000 annually in each succeeding fiscal 
        year'' and inserting ``$20,000,000 for each fiscal year''.

SEC. 603. AUTHORIZATION OF COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS BY NIOSH OFFICE OF 
              MINE SAFETY AND HEALTH.

    Section 22(h)(3) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 
(29 U.S.C. 671(h)(3)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D); 
        and
            (3) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:
                    ``(C) enter into cooperative agreements or 
                contracts with international institutions and private 
                entities to improve mine safety and health through the 
                development and evaluation of new interventions; and''.

SEC. 604. DOUBLE ENCUMBRANCE; SUCCESSION PLAN.

    (a) Authorization.--Notwithstanding any personnel procedures, 
rules, or guidance, the Secretary of Labor is authorized to double 
encumber a position or utilize early replacement hiring for authorized 
representatives and technical specialist positions in the Mine Safety 
and Health Administration. The number of such positions shall be 
consistent with the staffing requirements set forth in the succession 
plan under subsection (b).
    (b) Succession Plan.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Labor shall develop and provide 
to Congress a succession plan for the Mine Safety and Health 
Administration for the next five years to assure timely replacement of 
qualified employees critical to maintaining the agency's mission which 
shall--
            (1) estimate employee turnover for each year;
            (2) set benchmarks for maximum allowable percentage of 
        vacancies, and a maximum ratio of trainees to authorized 
        representatives;
            (3) utilize double encumbrance or early replacement hiring 
        for authorized representatives and technical specialists;
            (4) implement tracking systems to assure that staffing 
        levels of authorized representatives and technical specialists 
        do not fall below the minimum required to conduct necessary 
        inspections, thoroughly review mine plans, and conduct accident 
        and special investigations; and
            (5) identify resources necessary to implement such plan. 
        Such succession plan shall be updated biennially.
                                 <all>