Murray Legislation Finally Makes it to Senate Floor
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http://www.thenewstribune.com/health/story/123059.html Posted online at 4:09 p.m. Tuesday WASHINGTON - A key Senate committee on Tuesday approved Washington Sen. Patty Murray's legislation banning asbestos from products sold in the U.S. The 19-0 vote sent the measure to the Senate floor. This is the furthest Murray's legislation has gotten in the three times she's introduced it. Although mining of asbestos is banned in the United States, it is still imported for a number of commercial uses, including brake pads for cars and trucks. In addition, the number of annual deaths from the fibrous mineral - even a tiny particle can cause cancer when lodged in the lungs - continues to grow. Murray's bill would ban asbestos, invest as much as $50 million into research and treatment and launch a public education campaign about the dangers. Action on the bill came after she worked out a compromise with Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., to give 16 old chlorine plants that still use asbestos in their production lines time to retool. *** POSTED AUGUST 1, 2007 *** |