Senator Patty Murray and Senate's HELP Committee Hold Hearing on Workplace Exposure to Asbestos - July 31, 2001

On July 31, 2001, at Senator Patty Murray request, the Senate's HELP Committee (Health, Education, Labor & Pensions) held a hearing on workplace exposure to asbestos. Senator Murray is working to raise awareness about asbestos and to explore how we can better protect workers and consumers.
Sen Patty Murray Senator Patty Murray Holds Hearing to Educate Public on Asbestos Menace

Refuting enduring public opinion and corporate-issued statements, Sen Patty Murray today chaired a hearing to educate an innocent public about the hazards of asbestos and shatter myths about the safety, availability and usage of the cancer-causing substance.

Dr. Michael Harbut Dr. Michael Harbut (co-director of the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (MARF) Testifies Preventable Occupational Hazards Such as Asbestos-related Diseases Kill Workers and Trap Victims in Lose-lose Scenario

In his testimony today, Dr. Michael Harbut laid out in laymen's terms exactly what happens to the lungs of person exposed to asbestos fibers, and why adequate treatment is difficult to find. He cites evidence that government data is innaccurate, government laws insufficient, and government tolerance of corporations profiting from asbestos inexcusable.

Sen Max Baucus Senator Max Baucus "We Didn't Do Enough!"

Sen Max Baucus testified today (July 31, 2001) that the Libby, Montana example is a firebell in the night -- claiming that both the public and private sectors should and could have done more to prevent the tragedy at Libby, but did nothing. He goes on to question why more is not being done now that a case of such magnitude is available to show the public what will happen again if we don't act

Additional Information:

Ban Asbestos Act Moves to Senate Floor, Earns Praise (8/1/07)

When her bill moved by unanimous vote onto the floor of the U.S. Senate, Sen. Patty Murray scored one of the biggest victories in the history of American public health. Asbestos, the lethal poison that has killed millions worldwide infesting homes, offices, workplaces, and schools, is one step closer to being an outlawed enemy of public health. More...

Murray Legislation Finally Makes it to Senate Floor (8/1/07)

A key Senate committee on Tuesday approved Washington Sen. Patty Murray's legislation banning asbestos from products sold in the U.S More...

Murray Pushes for Asbestos Ban this Year: Bill May Pass Democratic-Led Senate (6/13/07)

After six years of frustrating failure and a rising death toll, Sen. Patty Murray said Tuesday that she is optimistic that legislation banning the sale and use of cancer-causing asbestos will pass this year. More...

Senator Murray Honors Brian Harvey, Advocate for Asbestos Victims (7/29/05)

In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash) paid tribute to Brian Harvey, an asbestos victim and advocate, who died on July 22, 2005.

A Washington native, Mr. Harvey often joined Senator Murray at press conferences and hearings to support Murray's legislation to ban the use of asbestos. More...

Canada's Deadly Export (11/22/04)

Asbestos has been banned in more than 30 countries, and safer products have replaced things once made with it. Public concern and government action, combined with liability considerations, have made the cost of asbestos products prohibitive in the United States. More...

Sen. Murray Opposes SB 2290, Praises Dr. Bret Williams, Dr. Pass, Chris Hahn and MARF (4/22/04)

Mr. President, I rise today to share my serious concerns with the asbestos liability bill now before the Senate. As my colleagues know, this is not just another bill for me. This is something I've spent years learning about, educating my colleagues about, and writing legislation to address. More...

Murray, Senators, Doctors, and Victims Urge Congress to Protect Americans from Deadly Asbestos (3/26/04)

U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash) joined with Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Sen. Mark Dayton (D-Minn), two doctors, and dozens of asbestos victims and family members to urge Congress to improve the asbestos-liability bill that will be brought to the Senate floor next month. More...

Murray Renews Her Effort to Ban Asbestos (3/25/04)

Sen. Patty Murray yesterday renewed her effort to ban asbestos, as the Senate inched toward considering legislation that would compensate victims of asbestos disease. More...

Murray Reaction Mixed to Judiciary Committee Passage of Asbestos Liability Bill (7/18/03)

U.S. Senator Murray (D-Wash.) praised the Senate Judiciary Committee for passing an improved version of S. 1125, "The Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act," which now requires asbestos to be banned within two years. More...

Asbestos Ban Must Move Forward. Seattle Post-Intelligencer (5/30/03)

A killing spree must be halted. That's the point behind Sen. Patty Murray's bill to ban asbestos in consumer products.

There's a dirty little secret about asbestos. Even after decades of efforts to remove asbestos from homes, schools and libraries, it can still legally be used in new consumer products. More...

The Ban Asbestos In America Act of 2003. Sponsored by Senator Patty Murray, D-Wash. (5/22/03)

Asbestos is a known carcinogen, and there is no known safe level of exposure. In 1976, Congress passed legislation to regulate toxic substances (The Toxic Substances Control Act). In 1989 EPA finalized regulations to ban asbestos under TSCA. In 1991, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals (New Orleans) overturned EPA's final regulation to ban asbestos. More...

Ban Asbestos Act Funds Meso Research! (6/20/02)

Senator Patty Murray announced today (June 18, 2002) the Ban Asbestos In America Act, a bill which will finally outlaw asbestos products in the US and, among other things, authorize the creation of a national mesothelioma registry, as well as allocate $3.5 million annually for 4 years among seven (7) medical institutions which are renown for their expertise in treating mesothelioma patients. More...

Asbestos Death Toll Set to Rise; Still We Ignore the Evidence

Former Assistant Surgeon General of the United States Richard Lemen gave damning testimony on August 14, 2001 before a senate hearing committee, asserting that despite documented proof dating back seventy years as to the fatal implications of asbestos, the United States remains one of the only Industrialized nations that does not ban the use, manufacture and sale of the carcinogen in consumer and industrial products.

Richare A. Leman, Ph. D (There is "no doubt that the scientific evidence supports the carcinogencity of chrysotile alone in the induction of mesothelioma.") For a complete review of Dr. Lemen's research in support of his conclusion, click here.