Today, U.S Senator Joe Donnelly joined a group of Senators including Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) to introduce the American Miners Pension Act. This bipartisan legislation would protect pension benefits for retired miners and ensure the solvency of the United Mine Workers of America Pension Plan. Without action from Congress, the pension benefits of nearly 3,000 retired Hoosiers are at risk.
Donnelly said, "In Indiana, there are nearly 3,000 retired miners at risk of losing their pension benefits through no fault of their own. These miners risked their lives to help keep the lights on in our country and to provide for their families. I urge the Senate to pass the bipartisan American Miners Pension Act as soon as possible because Hoosier and American miners are counting on the federal government to keep its promise."
Earlier this year, Donnelly helped lead the charge to pass and enact a permanent, bipartisan fix to ensure Indiana's retired mineworkers and their families receive the health care benefits they earned. Thanks to that fix, thousands of coal miners across the country, including approximately 1,500 retired miners in Indiana, were able to keep their health care benefits. Donnelly long has been a supporter of legislation to fulfill promises made to miners, has met many times with retired Hoosier mineworkers, and delivered several speeches on the Senate floor as part of his efforts on behalf of Hoosier miners.