By Anum Hussain - July 21, 2010
Three months after the West Virginia mine explosion that
killed 29 people, the House passed a bill today that helps protect America's
miners from occupational hazards.
The Robert C. Byrd Miner Safety and Health Act (H.R.
5663) sprouted from the House Committee on Education and Labor and made its way
to the House of Representatives. The bill passed in a 30-17 vote Wednesday
afternoon despite objections from the mine industry.
Mine owners complain that the legislation focuses heavily
on penalties. The bill addresses two
areas in particular: protection of employees and penalization of employers who endanger
their workers.
H.R. 5663 protects workers who take on the task of
informing their employees of unsafe conditions. In addition, the bill provides
full compensation for workers who are unable to work because their unsafe mine
is shut down.
The act strengthens the powers of the Mine Safety and
Health Administration (MSHA), increasing the civil and criminal penalties for
violations by mine operators. The MSHA will be given the authority to close
mines that continuously breach safety hazards.
Republicans complain that the bill surpasses job safety
laws affecting many of the country's private businesses.
The incident at Massey Energy's Upper Big Branch Mine in
Montcoal, West Virginia was reported as the country's worst coal mine disaster
in 40 years. Over 600 miners have died
in the last decade working in America's mines.
