LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER: Tax for Black Lung Benefits to Go Down without Build Back Better Passage

Director of Policy and Organizing, Rebecca Shelton, was interviewed for this article.

“Rebecca Shelton, director of policy and organizing for Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center, represents miners trying to get black lung benefits. She said those miners are feeling disappointed and frustrated, and that the miners needing black lung benefits have been strung along. Shelton said she and the miners are still hoping Build Back Better or other legislation to extend black lung benefits passes by the end of the year or early next year.

‘Allowing the only source of revenue for the trust fund to lapse is really unacceptable. If BBBA doesn’t pass, we urgently need all our lawmakers to get on board to get the ten-year extension bill over the finish line as soon as possible,’ Shelton said.

Shelton said the responsibility for the trust fund’s revenue will shift from coal operators to general taxpayers if the extension isn’t passed. If the fund has a short fall, it can borrow from the treasury, she said. Some of the fund’s debt has already been forgiven, which was paid by taxpayers.

Shelton said she doesn’t know what would sway Manchin to support Build Back Better to get the excise tax extended.”

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