The $6 million was marked for NIOSH’s Mining Research Program in the FY2005 budget. Of the additional funds, the Committee recommended four million be spent on in-house research programs, one million to expand the extramural mining research program, and the remaining million on emerging issues.

The report advised no funds or personnel would be transferred from NIOSH to other components of CFC by means other than traditional reprogramming of funds.

“We are pleased that the Committee recognizes the critical role that NIOSH plays in conducting research to advance mine safety and health,” said NMA president Jack Gerard in response to the Committee’s report.

NMA strongly opposed cuts to NIOSH’s program, and in a letter sent to the Committee in June, signed by both industry and labor interests, requested an additional $10 million in funding for NIOSH to ensure that the nation’s miners were not threatened by program cuts or inflation.