Virginia Senator Mark Warner attends black lung roundtable

Black lung is a devastating disease that has plagued Southwest Virginia for years.

Between 2020-2025 Stone Mountain Health Services says 14% of miners seen at the clinic were diagnosed with complicated black lung.

“Black lung are small opacities or smaller spots scattered out throughout the lungs,” said Black Lung Director for Stone Mountain Health Services, Bradley Johnson. “Complicated black lung is when those spots have come together and made a big mass at least the size of a quarter of 50 cent piece.”

Sen. Mark Warner sat down with United Mine Workers of America, healthcare workers and community members to talk about the effects of black lung as well as what lawmakers can do to help.

“End of the day it was coal miners and the energy that came from coal that built America in World War II and afterwards and I think we owe an obligation to honor those commitments,” Sen. Warner said.

Six years ago, Pam Stacy lost her husband to black lung. She says after he passed away, she was denied his benefits. Stacy tried to repeal during a 2023 hearing but hasn’t been contacted by the courts since.

“It’s hard, I struggle. With just me I only get social security and his little bit of retirement and that’s it,” Stacy said.

She now uses her story to advocate for what’s called the widow’s bill. Something Warner says he will continue to push.

“You hear these stories and they deserve better,” Sen. Warner said.

During the roundtable, it was also brought up that young people diagnosed with black lung do not qualify for disability on their social security.

“At least getting the designation on somebody’s social security form and if that would put an extra $3,000 a month in somebody disabled’s pocket because social security would recognize black lung in younger miners, that’s something tangible that we can work on,” Sen. Warner said.

Warner says the concerns discussed at the event will be taken back to Washington. He also made the promise to return to Southwest Virginia soon with an update.