; and (E) the total number of operating coal mines has hit its lowest point on record. (4) Because of the health risks often associated with mining, robust health benefits are vital to coal miner retirees; however, coal company bankruptcies, job cuts, and closures have exhausted the ability of many coal companies to continue providing health benefits to retirees and their dependents. (5) Congress has stepped in twice before, in 1992 and in 2006, to assist retired miners and to secure their health benefits. When thousands more were at risk of losing their benefits at the end of 2016, Congress intervened again to provide a 4-month extension in health benefits for orphaned retired miners and their dependents. (6) While this extension helped prevent the loss of health benefits for thousands of miners, it did not provide a long-term solution. (7) It is necessary to provide a permanent extension of health care benefits for the orphaned retirees who are at risk of losing their retirement health benefits at the end of April 2017. 3. Inclusion of certain retirees in the Multiemployer Health Benefit Plan (a) In general Section 402(h)(2)(C) of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 ( 30 U.S.C. 1232(h)(2)(C) ), as amended by the Further Continuing and Security Assistance Appropriations Act, 2017, is amended— (1) by striking clauses (ii), (iii), and (iv); and (2) by inserting after clause (i) the following: (ii) Calculation of excess The excess determined under clause (i) shall be calculated by taking into account only— (I) those beneficiaries actually enrolled in the Plan as of the date of the enactment of the HELP for Coal Miners Health Care Act of 2017 who are eligible to receive health benefits under the Plan on the first day of the calendar year for which the transfer is made, other than those beneficiaries enrolled in the Plan under the terms of a participation agreement with the current or former employer of such beneficiaries