InsideGov
Congress · Laws

Black Lung Benefits Revenue Act of 1977

Public Law 95-227 · H.R. 5322 · 95th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Feb 10, 1978 · Foreign Trade and International Finance

Sponsor: Rep. William Frenzel (R-MN-3)

Cosponsors: None

Passage votes

  • HouseMethod not stated
  • SenateMethod not stated
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

Report a correction

Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Black Lung Benefits Revenue Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 to impose a two percent manufacturers excise tax on the sale of coal by the producer. Exempts lignite from such tax.

Establishes a trust fund, to be known as the Black Lung Disability Fund. Appropriates to such fund amounts equal to the coal tax collected under this Act. Authorizes the appropriation to the fund of certain other revenues. States that amounts in the fund shall be available for making expenditures to meet the obligations acquired by the fund, including the expenses of providing medical benefits where such benefits are not paid by the appropriate mine operator. Stipulates that mine operators shall be liable to the fund for benefits actually paid by the fund for which such operator was liable.

Creates a lien in favor of the United States, if the operators refuse to reimburse the fund. Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to bring suit in any Federal district court to enforce such liens.

Establishes as trustees of the fund, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare; with the Secretary of the Treasury as the managing trustee.

Provides that receipts of the fund in excess of amounts needed to meet current withdrawals are to be invested only in: (1) public debt securities; (2) obligations of a State or local government; (3) time or demand deposits in a bank or an insured credit union; or (4) the fund. States that earnings from these investments are to be credited to and form a part of the fund.

Provides income tax exemption for a qualifying trust used by a coal mine operator to self- insure for liabilities under Federal and State black lung benefits laws and limited tax deductions for amounts contributed to the trust by the operator.

Imposes taxes for engaging in the acts of self-dealing, for making taxable expenditures, or for making excess contributions to black lung benefit trusts.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

Report a correction

Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 14 actions.

  1. Feb 10, 1978Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  2. PresidentPresident · Public Law 95-227.
  3. Jan 31, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
  4. Jan 30, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
  5. PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
  6. Jan 24, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendments.
  7. Dec 15, 1977FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
  8. Nov 1, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Finance Committee
  9. Jul 20, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Finance Committee
  10. Jul 18, 1977FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended.
  11. FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in House.
  12. Jun 16, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Ways and Means Committee
  13. Mar 22, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Ways and Means Committee
  14. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

Report a correction

Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.