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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 2768 (110th)

S-MINER Act

referredUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

19 June 2007

Last action

22 January 2008 · Introduced

Status

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Sponsors

Rep. Miller, George [D-CA-11], Rep. Rahall, Nick J., II [D-WV-3], Rep. Woolsey, Lynn C. [D-CA-6], Rep. Murtha, John P. [D-PA-12], Rep. Kucinich, Dennis J. [D-OH-10], Rep. Chandler, Ben [D-KY-6], Rep. Hare, Phil [D-IL-17], Rep. Bishop, Timothy H. [D-NY-1], Rep. Mollohan, Alan B. [D-WV-1], Rep. Payne, Donald M. [D-NJ-10], Rep. Holt, Rush [D-NJ-12], Rep. Sarbanes, John P. [D-MD-3], Rep. Yarmuth, John A. [D-KY-3], Rep. Shea-Porter, Carol [D-NH-1], Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7], Rep. Space, Zachary T. [D-OH-18], Rep. Sutton, Betty [D-OH-13], Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38], Rep. Delahunt, William D. [D-MA-10], Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3], Rep. Abercrombie, Neil [D-HI-1], Rep. Berman, Howard L. [D-CA-28], Rep. Arcuri, Michael A. [D-NY-24], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Matheson, Jim [D-UT-2]

Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

23 March 2026

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

Supplemental Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2007 or the S-MINER Act - Amends the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act) to require: (1) emergency response plans to incorporate new technology; (2) the Secretary of Labor to require the installation of rescue chambers in underground coal mines; and (3) accident response plans to provide for the maintenance of refuges. Amends the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006 to repeal provisions concerning standards relating to the sealing of abandoned areas in mines and sets forth provisions concerning: (1) regulating mine seals; (2) regulating the survivability of mine ventilation controls; (3) directing the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to determine whether changes in rock dust requirements are needed; (4) publishing regulations on flame resistance requirements for conveyor belts in use in mines; (5) prohibiting belt haulage entries from being used to ventilate active working places; (6) requiring mine operators to implement communication programs at their facilities and to install atmospheric monitoring systems; (7) requiring miners who may be working alone to be equipped with multi-gas detectors; (8) requiring mine operators to use administrative action to protect miners from lightning; (9) requiring the Secretary to establish a self-contained self-rescuers inspection program and an advisory committee on regulations applicable to underground metal and nonmetal mines; and (10) requiring the NIOSH to give priority in its research to technologies that could help miners in an emergency. Supplements the Secretary's enforcement authority, including establishing a Master Inspector program to provide incentives for employees to serve as mine safety and health inspectors. Establishes, within the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Labor, the position of Miner Ombudsman, whose duties shall include ensuring that the rights of miners are upheld. Provides for a fine for a pattern of violations of health or safety standards. Requires the Secretary to establish: (1) an advisory committee to make recommendations on whether the Mine Act should provide for federal licensing of mines and mine personnel; and (2) a central communications emergency call center within the Mine Safety and Health Administration. Requires: (1) a mine operator to notify the Secretary of specified types of accidents and to take measures to prevent the destruction of evidence; and (2) regulations concerning mine rescue teams to provide for uniform credentials and coordination with local emergency response personnel. Directs the Secretary to: (1) require mine operators to have an ambulance within a specified area; (2) review and revise the training and availability requirements for medical emergency technicians; and (3) contract with the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board to conduct an independent investigation of an accident upon the request of miners' representatives or families. Sets forth concentration and exposure limits and sampling and respiratory equipment requirements regarding respirable dust and respirable silica dust in the mine atmosphere.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 19 June 2007

    Introduced

    Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 19 June 2007

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 19 June 2007

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 20 June 2007

    Introduced

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E1347)

    Source: IntroReferral

  5. 24 July 2007

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.

    Source: Committee

  6. 7 September 2007

    Committee

    Subcommittee on Workforce Protections Discharged.

    Source: Committee

  7. 31 October 2007

    Vote

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 26 - 18.

    Source: Committee

  8. 31 October 2007

    Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Source: Committee

  9. 15 November 2007

    Calendars

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 280.

    Source: Calendars

  10. 15 November 2007

    Reported

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Labor. H. Rept. 110-457.

    Source: Committee

  11. 15 November 2007

    Reported

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Labor. H. Rept. 110-457.

    Source: Committee

  12. 15 January 2008

    Reported

    Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 918 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2768 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived except those arising under clause 9 or 10 or rule XXI. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Education and Labor.

    Source: Floor

  13. 16 January 2008

    Floor

    The Speaker designated the Honorable Luis V. Gutierrez to act as Chairman of the Committee.

    Source: Floor

  14. 16 January 2008

    Floor

    The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 2768.

    Source: Floor

  15. 16 January 2008

    Vote

    On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 214 - 199 (Roll no. 10).

    Source: Floor

  16. 16 January 2008

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

  17. 16 January 2008

    Vote

    Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 214 - 199 (Roll no. 10).

    Source: Floor

  18. 16 January 2008

    Vote

    On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 197 - 217 (Roll no. 9).

    Source: Floor

  19. 16 January 2008

    Floor

    The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. (consideration: CR H74-75)

    Source: Floor

  20. 16 January 2008

    Floor

    Mr. Souder moved to recommit with instructions to Education and Labor. (consideration: CR H73; text: CR H73)

    Source: Floor

  21. 16 January 2008

    Passed

    The House adopted the amendments en gross as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

    Source: Floor

  22. 16 January 2008

    Floor

    The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H73)

    Source: Floor

  23. 16 January 2008

    Floor

    The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 2768.

    Source: Floor

  24. 16 January 2008

    Floor

    House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 918 and Rule XVIII.

    Source: Floor

  25. 16 January 2008

    Floor

    Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 2768 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived except those arising under clause 9 or 10 or rule XXI. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Education and Labor.

    Source: Floor

  26. 16 January 2008

    Reported

    Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 918. (consideration: CR H45-75; text of measure as reported in House: CR H54-60)

    Source: Floor

  27. 16 January 2008

    Passed

    Rule H. Res. 918 passed House.

    Source: Floor

  28. 22 January 2008

    Introduced

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

    Source: IntroReferral

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

10 official files

Referred in Senate (text)

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  • Referred in Senate (text)

    Referred in Senate · EN · 22 January 2008

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  • Referred in Senate (PDF)

    Referred in Senate · EN · 22 January 2008

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  • Engrossed in House (text)

    Engrossed in House · EN · 16 January 2008

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  • Engrossed in House (PDF)

    Engrossed in House · EN · 16 January 2008

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  • Passed House amended

    summary · EN · 16 January 2008

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  • Reported in House (text)

    Reported in House · EN · 15 November 2007

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  • Reported in House (PDF)

    Reported in House · EN · 15 November 2007

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  • Introduced in House (text)

    Introduced in House · EN · 19 June 2007

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  • Introduced in House (PDF)

    Introduced in House · EN · 19 June 2007

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  • Introduced in House

    summary · EN · 19 June 2007

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Sponsors

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Sources

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