Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) issued the following statement in response to the Biden-Harris administration’s final rule affecting the increased self-insurance liability obligations of coal production companies:
 
“The Biden-Harris DOL is hanging the coal industry out to dry. Imposing a one-size-fits-all approach to collateralization for Black Lung Benefits Act obligations is extremely burdensome to companies with demonstrated financial capacity to meet their Black Lung Disability Trust Fund obligations. Due to the lack of affordable and readily available surety and commercial insurance, coal operators that choose to self-insure will be forced to include Black Lung Benefits Act obligations as a line item on their balance sheet. This will make it significantly more difficult for coal operators to maintain liquidity and will discourage investment in the coal mining workforce. Coal miners are vital to states’ economies, yet Democrats continue to demand more layers of bureaucratic red tape and increased control over job creators that harm this important industry. It is clear that the energy sector has no friends in the Biden-Harris administration.”

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