Reports by the Government Accountability Office

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall— (1) carry out a review of interim benefit payments under the Black Lung Benefits Act (30 U.S.C. 901 et seq.) for miners and survivors who have submitted a claim for benefits under such Act and are waiting for a final determination, including— (A) an examination of the financial impact on beneficiaries of such payments in the case the claims of such beneficiaries are denied and the payments are recouped; (B) a study of the impact that the stress caused by such recoupment, or the threat of such recoupment, has on beneficiaries of such payments; and (C) a study of the financial impact on the Federal Government and taxpayers of the process for recouping such interim benefit payments in the case of claims that are denied; (2) carry out a review of benefit payments for miners and survivors under the Black Lung Benefits Act (30 U.S.C. 901 et seq.), including— (A) an examination of whether such payments are sufficient to meet the expenses of such miners and survivors; (B) an examination of the economic impact of a possible increase in the amount of benefit payments for such miners and survivors; and (C) based on such examination, recommendations on the amount of benefit payments that such miners and survivors should receive; (3) carry out a review that examines the impact of a possible change to regulations of the Secretary of Labor to permit a survivor of a miner to, after a final determination of benefits under the Black Lung Benefits Act (30 U.S.C. 901 et seq.) is made with respect to such survivor, file a subsequent claim for benefits under such Act; and (4) submit to Congress reports on the results of the reviews under paragraphs (1), (2), and (3).