SENATE RESOLUTION 53

(By Senators Stollings, Hardesty, Prezioso, Jeffries, Lindsay, Romano, Baldwin, Hamilton, and Plymale)

[Introduced February 20, 2019]

Recognizing the recent increase in black lung cases in West Virginia.

Whereas, It is important to raise awareness of the recent rise in black lung, particularly progressive massive fibrosis, the deadliest form of black lung in West Virginia; and

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 has 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, published in September 2018, it was discovered 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, Two thousand cases of progressive massive fibrosis have been discovered since 2010; 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 percent in 2014; and

Whereas, There have been 62 black lung related lung transplants in the United States, seven percent of which have occurred in the last decade; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate hereby recognizes the recent increase in black lung cases in West Virginia; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the appropriate representatives black lung awareness.