Ban Asbestos in America
Most Americans believe they’re safe from deadly asbestos. But while 40 countries around the world have
banned asbestos, the U.S. has not, and up to 10,000 Americans die from
asbestos-related diseases each year. It is unconscionable that so many
innocent victims have died because they were exposed to a product that
they were told was safe. Until we take the steps to ban this deadly
substance, we will continue to put innocent lives at risk.
Legislation I have introduced would protect families and workers from asbestos. My bill, S. 742, the Ban Asbestos in America Act, was introduced for the first time in 2002. After six years of working the bill through the legislative process and by careful bipartisan negotiations and persistent work, the Senate unanimously passed in 109th Congress. While that bill was not signed ultimately signed into law, I am continuing to work toward ensuring American families are not at risk from deadly asbestos.
A report by the Environmental Working Group on the dangers of asbestos exposure further underscores the need to enact my bill to ban asbestos in America.
My Priorities
- Banning asbestos in the United States.
- Expanding research and treatment of asbestos-related diseases.
- Increasing public education of the dangers of asbestos in the workplace, home and environment.
My Accomplishments
- Introduced and passed in the Senate S.742, Ban Asbestos in America Act of 2007.
- Held and participated in several hearings about the dangerous of asbestos to educate the public and policy makers.
- Successfully pushed for the removal of Capitol tunnel workers after their exposal to deadly levels of asbestos were described at a Senate hearing.