Allies Push for a Vote
The Miners’ Protection Act (S. 1714), the bill to preserve UMWA retirees’ pensions and health care, has been stuck in the Senate Finance Committee since President Roberts’ March 1, 2016 testimony in favor of the bill. This despite repeated expressions of support from Democrats and Republicans on the committee. Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT) has expressed his support for taking action to pass the legislation, and Republican Finance Committeee Members Rob Portman (OH), Richard Burr (NC) and Pat Roberts (KS) are all co-sponsors of the legislation. The Democrats on the bill are unanimously in favor of the legislation and sent a letter to Chairman Hatch in May expressing their support and asking for a committee vote.
“We have the votes in the committee to get this bill out and onto the floor of the Senate,” President Roberts said. “We just can’t get a vote, even though the Chairman says he supports it…”
