"The American public has seen for itself far too often over the last two years just how bad safety conditions in some coal mines in this country can be, and just how callously some coal operators disregard the mine safety laws that are already in place," UMWA President Cecil E. Roberts said in a statement. "Miners are still dying."

Miller said 25 coal miners and 28 metal and nonmetal miners have died on the job this year. His bill addresses "disaster prevention, improved emergency response and long-term health risks."

The bill calls for more strict reviews of retreat mining, particularly at depths of more the 1,500 feet underground. The measure also would create an MSHA ombudsman position, so that miners and their families would have an "expert, independent, confidential outlet for reporting safety concerns," Miller said.

MSHA would have to create its own overall emergency response plan and would be granted subpoena authority. Mines would need to use underground refuge chambers by June 2008. And random inspections would be required of miner's personal air packs, known as self-contained self-rescuers or SCSRs.

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