The newest edition of the Black Lung Bulletin is out now aclc.org/2026/01/29/b...

“As healthcare costs skyrocket, miners should not have to worry about workplace exposures forcing them into hospitals.” – Rep. Omar (MN)

“Unfortunately, after declining for decades, black lung disease is now on the rise. X-ray surveillance data indicates that the prevalence of black lung disease has doubled from 2007-2017. Nearly 1 in 5 tenured miners in Appalachia have been diagnosed with black lung disease." - Rep. Omar (MN)

“We must ensure worker protections keep pace. This is where MSHA comes in. MSHA must promote strong and effective policies so that every mine worker can finish their shift and return home safely to their loved ones.” - Rep. Mackenzie (PA)

“This morning at 10:15am ET, the House Ed & Workforce HELP subcommittee will be holding a hearing w/Asst. Sec. Wayne Palmer on the policies & priorities of MSHA. Tune in below to watch or follow us today for updates. youtube.com/live/YxqfPkSYdg0?feature=share”

Last year, over 80 local governments passed a resolution calling on Congress to support an increase in federal black lung benefits. It’s critical that Congress listen to its constituents and support miners who have been waiting too long for a benefits increase.

Last week, the House passed a bill to withdraw $500 million from the Abandoned Mine Land funds allocated by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. These funds are critical for coal communities, and Congress must preserve them. insideclimatenews.org/news/1301202...

In December, Congressional leaders reintroduced the Championing Local Efforts to Advance Resilience (CLEAR) Act. Communities facing the brunt of extreme weather events need support before disasters strike - not just after. Read more in our latest press release: appfloodcoalition.org/news

(2/2) The Appalachian Flood Resilience Coalition advocates for policies and investments in nature-based mitigation to lessen flood impacts. Learn more about what these projects can look like in this new paper: static1.squarespace.com/static/681e2...

(1/2) Working with nature can be a powerful way to mitigate and adapt to flooding. Check out examples of nature-based flood mitigation projects in Appalachia

(3)And thank you to the many advocates who continue to work tirelessly to ensure clean drinking water for all. Especially we want to thank Nina McCoy and John McCoy for joining us in D.C. this year to talk to lawmakers about this issue. We still have a long way to go but it's a fight worth fighting!

(2) Thank you to Congressman Hal Rogers who has stepped up and joined as a cosponsor of the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program Establishment Act. If passed, the bill would create a permanent LIHWAP program and provide $500M for LIHWAP each year from 2026 - 2030.

(1) Drinking water affordability is a problem across Kentucky. The problem just keeps getting worse. Providing assistance for low-income households who are struggling the most to pay their water bills is a small but important step towards ensuring that everyone is able to maintain access to water.

Today is National Miners Day. On this day we celebrate the dedication and skills of miners everywhere and urge Congress and the Trump Administration to recommit to ensuring miner health and safety. Take action and write a letter to Congress today to improve black lung benefits: blacklungkills.org

Support ACLC this Giving Tuesday! We have a generous donor matching every gift up to $5,000, so your donation will be doubled. We appreciate your support today and throughout the year!

Today we celebrate the launch of the Appalachian Flood Resilience Coalition! This group of local, regional, and national nonprofits is dedicated to research and issue advocacy on federal policies that will create a more resilient Appalachia. www.appfloodpolicy.org.

The Healthy Waters Coalition launched this week. We’re excited to join over 100 other member organizations working together to elevate the Ohio River Basin restoration and protection to address toxic pollution, contamination, habitat loss, and flooding. Learn More: healthywaterscoalition.org

Protect Kentuckians this winter. Call Gov. Beshear at 502-564-2611 to demand a moratorium on utility disconnections until SNAP & LIHEAP benefits are restored. He declared an emergency for SNAP—now he must stop utilities from cutting off struggling families. #KYUtilities

Read more here:

Yesterday, the House T&I Committee passed the Fixing Emergency Management Act of 2025. This bipartisan bill will reform various aspects of FEMA and make changes that our Appalachian Flood Resilience Coalition has been advocating for since we released our platform in May 2024.

This week Kentucky Power will file to increase residential rates by nearly 15%. Power bills are already unaffordable for many eastern KY families. As we wait to learn more about this filing, check out these programs to help households reduce energy usage at www.kentuckypower.com/savings/home...

MSHA and mining industry continue to delay implementation of silica dust rule. Enforcement of silica dust protections are indefinitely delayed. Read more here.

We are part of a growing coalition urging the Senate to stop the nomination of coal exec Lanny Erdos to lead OSMRE. See our letter here for more details: drive.google.com/file/d/1AynS...

Severe flooding continues to devastate the region, and as active community members, ACLC’s fight for flood resilient policies at all levels is deeply personal. Read one of our staff member’s experiences with flooding in the Ohio Valley last month. aclc.org/2025/07/17/o...

Reporting indicates that we've made more progress in halting the Trump Administration's assault on coal miner health and safety. The administration is walking back its proposal to close over 30 MSHA offices. But there is still so much more to do. news.bloomberglaw.com/daily-labor-...

50 Weeks of Atlas: Kentucky Spotlight Since 2011, KY has faced 23 federal disasters. With 26 counties hit 10+ times, it’s clear: communities must be better prepared. Resilience saves lives, homes, and economies. Learn more: bit.ly/4kgPTTY @appcitizenslaw.bsky.social @kyresources.bsky.social

Medicaid, Black Lung Benefits, SNAP, and LIHEAP are all vital programs for families in Eastern Kentucky. Today, ACLC joined statewide partners to discuss the proposed cuts to these programs and the impact on our region. aclc.org/2025/05/15/e...

We appreciate all who help us to fight for justice in the coalfields. Donate today at kygives.org/organization...

WV MOCs have been speaking out about NIOSH cuts, saying that the elimination of programs critical to coal miners is "a mistake." wvmetronews.com/2025/04/14/m... Where are Kentucky’s members of Congress on this issue and why have they continued to be silent?

Flood resilience, miner health and safety, economic development investments – all these crucial Appalachian priorities have been decimated in the last 100 days. The 2026 Appropriations process is a chance to stop the cuts and start making progress again. aclc.org/2025/05/01/a...

Reductions in MSHA's capacity and the dismantling of NIOSH put miners at risk. Listen to this short interview with our Executive Director, Wes Addington, to learn more: esweku.org/track/425194....

If you've applied for aid from FEMA following a disaster, this opportunity is for you. FEMA is collecting comments to help inform improvements to their assistance programs. Comments are due May 15th -- see more information below!

"It’s going to be devastating to miners. Nobody is going to be monitoring the mines." Trump’s cuts to miner health and safety are going to hit coal country hard, according to experts. READ MORE from @reuters.com @valerievolc.bsky.social www.reuters.com/business/wor...

NEW from @washingtonpost: Trump’s pledges to boost coal are undercut by his devastating cuts to coal miner safety & black lung prevention. READ MORE from @maxinejoselow: www.washingtonpost.com/climate-envi...

Millions of families face rising water bills as aging infrastructure and shrinking federal support shift costs onto communities. What can policymakers do? Read the new op-ed in Inside Sources by Yasmin Zaerpoor and ACLC’s Mary Cromer.

Op-ed: "We owe it to families across America — from Martin County, Kentucky, to Detroit to California’s Central Valley — to make #SafeAffordableWater a reality." #WECRCaucus' Yasmin Zaepoor & @appcitizenslaw.bsky.social's Mary Cromer write for Inside Sources. dcjournal.com/water-afford...

The Trump Administration has temporarily paused enforcement of the silica dust rule -- a rule to protect miners from exposure to toxic dust. This rule is critical to help curb black lung disease. Read more here: aclc.org/2025/04/11/a...

Anita Wolfe, a former employee of the Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, will join Appalachian Voices on this week’s Holler from the Hollers! Register for free.

“We should want to stay in a place we call home and not fear our relationship around water.” For #WaterWeek2025, watch this documentary from the #WECRCaucus sharing stories from Martin County, KY & their fight for #AffordableWaterForAll ⬇️ 📽️ Full film on the site! app.sosha.ai/s/B0zcrxs8

We are thrilled to welcome Caroline Rubens as our new Fundraising Officer! She brings over 20 years of nonprofit experience to our work and a passion for improving the health and well-being of Appalachian Communities. aclc.org/2025/04/08/a...

An analysis from @appcitizenslaw.bsky.social found mine safety inspectors done thousands of inspections from field offices designated for closure by DOGE. A short trip to inspect an EKY coal mine could turn into hours if inspectors have fewer/farther offices. kentuckylantern.com/2025/04/07/c...

A new ACLC analysis shows DOGE’s planned closure of 33 MSHA offices threatens miner safety and community health. These offices conducted 16,000+ inspections since 2024. READ THE REPORT: tinyurl.com/5cdvx9xn

It's black lung awareness day at the West Virginia Capitol this morning. Here's what we're looking at this legislative session:

We're hiring! Looking for someone to help lead our fundraising and development work. Please share widely! aclc.org/jobs/

More than 19 million U.S. households face unaffordable water bills according to a new @EPA report. We can solve the water crisis together! #SafeAffordableWater Read more from the #WECRCaucus: climatewaterequity.org/epa-needs-as...

To plan for long-term resilience to flood events, Appalachian communities need more reliable data. Learn how Congress can help and join us TOMORROW at noon for a webinar on our federal flood policy priorities (registration link in blog!). aclc.org/2024/12/04/f...

Low-income households are often the hardest hit by flooding. Learn how Congress can support their recovery and join us on December 12th at noon for a webinar on our federal flood policy priorities (registration link in blog!). aclc.org/2024/12/04/l...