According to a report from E&E News, an extension of the black lung tax has been proposed in Congress. The proposal would use the increased revenue from the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund to offset the RECLAIM Act. Evan Smith, staff attorney at the Appalachian Citizens’ Law Center, said protecting the Trust Fund is vital with the resurgence of black lung disease so that disabled miners and widows receive their entitled benefits. Black lung excise tax revenue would continue going directly to the Black Lung Disability Trust Fund. The extension of the tax would serve as an offset for RECLAIM by satisfying Congressional Budget Office accounting rules. The current tax levels are set to expire at the end of 2018.