WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Rob Portman, R-Ohio, spoke on Thursday at a United Mine Workers rally at the U.S. Capitol, urging passage of the Miner’s Protection Act.

The senators said the bill would protect health coverage and pensions for the nation’s coal miners.

The UMWA’s 1974 pension plan was 94 percent funded, prior to 2008, according to a news release from Brown’s office.

Following the financial crisis and due to factors such as fewer active workers, the senators said the plan is now severely underfunded and miners could see reductions in monthly pension checks.

The senators, along with UMWA head Cecile Roberts touted the legislation, which they said was a bipartisan fix.

“Our miners worked decades in the mines — hard, backbreaking work, but work that had dignity; work that powered this country and that was supposed to help them build a better life for their families,” Brown said. “But right now, these miners are facing crippling cuts to the health care and retirement security they earned. Congress shouldn’t leave Washington until we keep the promises we’ve made to miners and their families.”

Portman said the legislation needs a vote in the chamber.

“We’ve got to get this done,” he said. “It’s the right thing to do. As Cecil says, it’s also our responsibility to stand with the coal miners who have been there for us.”