CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Rep. David McKinley, R-W.Va., said many of his constituents are concerned about the "amount and redundancy" of forms and documents required to file for black lung benefits from the U.S. Department of Labor.

On Thursday, McKinley introduced the Burdensome Paperwork Reduction for our Miners Act, which would direct the Secretary of Labor to review forms required to obtain benefits under the federal black lung program.

"Upwards of 50 pages are required at times, merely to apply for the benefits," McKinley said on Friday. "That's just wrong, both for our miners and for the taxpayers who foot the cost for such applications.

"This legislation will require the Department of Labor to streamline the paperwork involved in such applications," McKinley said. "This bill is about protecting our miners who are on their hands and knees each day so we can ultimately have the electricity we need to live our lives."