1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Helping Ensure Long-Term Protection for Coal Miners Health Care Act of 2017 or the HELP for Coal Miners Health Care Act of 2017 . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Over the 8 years preceding the date of the introduction of this Act, the coal industry and the communities supported by that industry have struggled, in large part due to overregulation. (2) Excessive regulation has, in large part, made coal more expensive to mine and use and has put it at an unfair disadvantage in the marketplace. (3) Because of these struggles— (A) the coal mining industry has lost over 30,000 jobs since President Obama’s inauguration; (B) over 600 coal mines have shuttered since President Obama’s inauguration; (C) more than 25 coal mining companies have filed for bankruptcy since President Obama’s inauguration; (D) Kentucky alone has lost over 10,000 coal mining jobs since President Obama’s inauguration; 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