The RECLAIM Act & Black Lung Advocacy

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RECLAIM & Black Lung

The Alliance for Appalachia co-convenes a national RECLAIM working group with partners at the Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center. With participants from more than 50 organizations across the country, we’re building a movement for a Just Transition that supports the goals of passing the RECLAIM Act, building new power and leadership capacity among community members and supporting a Just Transition narrative throughout regions impacted by coal mining. This campaign is also committed to addressing the black lung epidemic sweeping the Central Appalachian region by advocating for miners’ pensions and funding for the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund. This group organizes around the Jemez Principles.

Updates – Some of the RECLAIM language and asks were included in the new infrastructure bill. Updates coming soon.

Downloadable Resources

Reclamation Success Stories

RECLAIM Act One Page Handout

RECLAIM vs AML Pilot

Black Lung Info

Virginia

Kentucky

Pennsylvania

Tennessee

Ohio

West Virginia

Black Lung Disease

2018 Report by the Government Accountability Office
Black Lung Benefits Program: Options for Improving Trust Fund Finances

Links NPR Investigative Reporting
https://www.npr.org/series/156453033/black-lung-returns-to-coal-country
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/coals-deadly-dust/

Recent Blog Posts

Dear Senators

Letter sent to Appalachian Senators The Alliance for Appalachia is composed of grassroots organizations in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky,

Community Advocates Applaud House Passage of Historic, Job-Creating Investments in Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation

We are so proud of all the hard work our members and other grassroots community organizers have put into advocating for clean water, cleaning up

Congress Fails to Reauthorize Abandoned Coal Mine Lands

Even though Congress has known since 2006 that the Abandoned Mine Land Program would need to be reauthorized this year, they failed to act by the

Tell Your Senators to Pass the RECLAIM Act

Take Action for the RECLAIM Act, AML Reauthorization, & Black Lung

Over 100 organizations, including the Alliance for Appalachia and several of our members, have added our names to a sign-on letter urging House

RECLAIM Act advocates kick off summer with grassroots lobby trip

RECLAIM Act advocates from across the country kicked off summer with a grassroots lobby trip to Washington, DC. This is another in a series of

BIG NEWS- 116th Congress introduces the RECLAIM Act

This week, U.S. Reps. Matt Cartwright (D-PA), Hal Rogers (R-KY), Glenn Thompson (PA-15), and Don Beyer (VA-08) introduced the RECLAIM Act– HR

Less Words, More Action: Where is Congress on RECLAIM and Black Lung?

Let’s Take Action! It’s March and there has still been no progress by Congress to take action on two pieces of legislation that are critical

Secure Funding for the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund

Dear Majority Leader McConnell, Leader Schumer, Leader McCarthy, and Leader Pelosi: This letter is a call from your constituents and our neighbors

Councilman and Constituents Deliver Black Lung Resolutions to Congress

Also Published on Appalachian Voices Blog. From September 24 to 26, 10 residents of Southwest Virginia traveled with The Alliance for Appalachia to

I am a retired coal miner and very proud of that work!

From September 23 thru 26th, 40 Appalachian leaders from 6 states will meet with members of Congress asking for their support of the RECLAIM

Why Stanley Fights MTR!

The Alliance has recently been talking about our upcoming trip to Washington, D.C. and with only 15 days before we depart, we are excited and fired

Black Lung on the Rise, Benefits at Risk

The Alliance for Appalachia fights for the protection of our mountains and our miners. We work towards a future that ensures a good quality of life

RECLAIM ACTion Alert

#RECLAIMAct *Please share this post to help us get the word out, especially about grassroots call-in days happening March 13-15 Together, we have

Support the RECLAIM Act

These are challenging days. But we are ready for action, and to begin the work to rebuild our region’s economy. If you are looking to spread