Black Lung Awareness Day draws advocates to West Virginia Legislature
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WOWK) – West Virginia coal miners and their families gathered at the West Virginia Capitol on Tuesday to advocate for Black Lung Awareness.
Representatives from the Black Lung Association say they are advocating for increased benefits and protections. This session, they hope to continue to spread awareness of black lung disease and support Senate Bill 895, which would recognize black lung disease as a severe occupational disease under state code.
“We can get that bill passed. It’ll be one thing to help out coal miners. They might think, ‘Well, how am I supposed to live?’ So, if we can get one of these passed, we’ll appreciate them doing that for us,” says Gary Hairston, President of the National Black Lung Association.
They hope to reduce the impact of black lung disease in the future.
