Relief for Survivors of Miners Act of 2023

The Relief for Survivors of Miners Act of 2023 simplifies benefits for survivors of miners who died from black lung disease (pneumoconiosis). It creates a rebuttable presumption that a miner's death was caused by the disease if they worked 10+ years in coal mines or were totally disabled by the disease at the time of death - this presumption can only be overturned by proving the disease didn’t contribute to the death. The bill also establishes a new program to cover up to $4,500 in attorneys’ fees and $3,000 in medical expenses for contested claims unresolved within a year, with coal operators later reimbursing the fund. Additionally, it requires a Government Accountability Office review of current benefit payments and interim payment practices to assess their financial and emotional impact on survivors.