washington 10,000 retire coal miners families descend u.s. congress thursday pressure lawmakers pass stall legislation would prevent 22,000 lose pension health benefit soon early 2017. bipartisan group senators try pass legislation ensure retire coverage unite mine workers america retirement healthcare fund dwindle coal company drop benefit bankruptcy proceed future coal industry workers issue national politics weeks go presidential congressional elections november time passage bill limit union say federal government obligate ensure coal workers continue get benefit umwa pension currently support 120,000 former miners families miners put decades back-breaking work america coal mine energize nation umwa international president cecil roberts say republican senators include senate majority leader mitch mcconnell kentucky hesitate support legislation either want see bail unionize workers address say president barack obama regulatory war coal industry legislation backers say obligate uphold guarantee make 1946 president harry truman protect benefit avert strike republican west virginia senator shelley moore capito say wednesday payments less 600 month lavish pension say food trip see doctor congress fail pass miners protection act billion federal pension benefit guaranty corp agency backstop fail private-sector pension program already financially strain would responsible plan mervn click retire coal miner hueytown alabama travel 20 hours bus rally say benefit could cease year end know run say stand tree face capitol west virginia democratic senator joe manchin say 46 democratic senators least eight republicans back bill three republicans rob portman ohio pat toomey pennsylvania mark kirk illinois reelection november tight race coal-producing state portman tell crowd confident bill pass senate finance committee discuss wednesday hope strong vote get senate floor like torpedo say senator ron wyden oregon democrat rank member finance committee say work side aisle make sure bill get pass today mine workers tomorrow woodworkers say refer state log industry democratic presidential nominee hillary clinton criticize bankrupt coal company shirk responsibility pay healthcare benefit retire voice support bill firmly believe spend life keep light country leave dark clinton say statement also propose 30 billion package help coal state adapt change economy plan overshadow comment make early year would put coal company business republican presidential nominee donald trump repeatedly pledge put coal miners back work offer detail campaign unavailable comment mcconnell spokesman robert steurer tell reuters issue deserve open transparent debate regular order vera newton member unite auto workers louisville kentucky chapter join members rally solidarity coal workers lose fight next say like dominoes lose pension unions follow u.s. coal miners hit congress rally pension protection