WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) and a bipartisan group of lawmakers called on their colleagues today to pass a permanent solution to the ongoing miners pension crisis.  

“We love our coal miners in Alabama, and I stand with you like I did early on. I will stand with you until we complete our promise to the coal miners,” Rep. Sewell said at a press conference today with members of the United Mine Workers of America. “We – the federal government – must do our part, because you’ve already done your part.”

“We have to honor the retirement security you have earned,” Rep. Sewell continued. “We will honor that promise because it’s the right thing to do.”

As a result of the 2008 financial crisis and coal bankruptcies, retired miners are at risk of losing their hard-earned pension benefits.

Sewell is a co-sponsor of the Miners Pension Protection Act, legislation to shore up miners’ pensions and make sure workers in failing pension plans have a backstop to continue receiving their earned benefits. The legislation would protect the pensions of 87,000 current beneficiaries and 20,000 more who have vested for their pensions but have not yet begun drawing them.

Photos of the press conference are available here. Video of the press conference is available here.