Bill Text: WV HR16 | 2019 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Recognizing the recent rise in Black Lung, particularly Progressive Massive Fibrosis, the most-deadly form of Black Lung in West Virginia

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-02-26 - To House Energy [HR16 Detail]

Download: West_Virginia-2019-HR16-Introduced.html

HOUSE RESOLUTION Number 16

(By Delegates Caputo, Angelucci, S. Brown, Barrett, Bates, Boggs, N. Brown, Campbell, Canestraro, Cooper, Dean, Diserio, Ellington, Hartman, Hill, D. Jeffries, J. Jeffries, Jennings, Lavender-Bowe, Lovejoy, C. Martin, Maynard, McGeehan, Miley, Paynter, Pethtel, Robinson, Rohrbach, Sponaugle, Staggers, Steele, Storch, Swartzmiller, Sypolt, C. Thompson, Walker, Worrell and Zukoff)

[Introduced February 26, 2019]

 

Recognizing the recent rise in Black Lung, particularly Progressive Massive Fibrosis, the most-deadly form of Black Lung in West Virginia.

Whereas, It has been established that many individuals during the course of their lives, and in pursuit of their livelihoods in order to raise their families in West Virginia, have been exposed to the hazard of inhaling minute particles of coal dust and silica and as a result have sustained chronic respiratory disabilities; and

Whereas, Occupational pneumoconiosis, also known as Black Lung, in these affected miners have resulted in loss of employment opportunities, increased medical costs, and considerable pain and suffering to them and their families; and

Whereas, In a recent study from the American Journal of Public Health in September, 2018, found that over 20 percent of miners with 25 years or more of tenure have Black Lung; and

Whereas, Half of the 4,679 Black Lung cases determined by the U.S. Department of Labor between 1970 and 2016 have occurred since the year 2000; and

Whereas, 2,000 cases of Progressive Massive Fibrosis have been discovered since 2010; and

Whereas, Most miners with Progressive Massive Fibrosis last worked in West Virginia; and

Whereas, West Virginia has seen an 11 percent increase in Progressive Massive Fibrosis since 1972; and

Whereas, Nationally the percentage of miners diagnosed with Black Lung increased from zero percent in 1972 to 8.3 in 2014; and

Whereas, There has been 62 Black Lung related lung transplants in the United States, 79 percent of which have occurred in the last decade; therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Delegates of West Virginia:

That the State of West Virginia is hereby requested to renew its resolve to do whatever it takes to eradicate this terrible disease; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the State of West Virginia work with all interested parties to protecting miners from contracting this disease and supporting miners who have already been affected by this disease by any means necessary.

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