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March 31, 2008
Mrs. Wendy Stoeckler
Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin
Dear Mrs. Stoeckler:
Thank you for contacting me about H.R. 3339, the Bruce Vento
Ban Asbestos and Prevent Mesothelioma Act of 2007. It is good
to hear from you, and I apologize for the delay in my
response.
I appreciate you taking the time to share your experiences
with mesothelioma. I am sorry to hear that Christopher lost
his fight against this disease. Please know that my thoughts
are with you and Taylor.
As you know, mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer in which
malignant cells are found in the sac lining the chest or
abdomen. An individual's risk of developing mesothelioma
is increased by exposure to airborne asbestos particles. In
addition, approximately 10,000 people die each year in the
U.S. from asbestos-related diseases. Forty countries have
banned asbestos, and, years ago, the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) proposed regulations to ban asbestos. However,
the EPA's proposed regulations were overturned in court
in 1991, and to date the U.S. has failed to implement an
asbestos ban.
Like you, I strongly believe that the United States must make
concerted efforts to ban asbestos and improve treatment for
asbestos-related diseases. For this reason, I cosponsor H.R.
3339. As you know, among its provisions, this bill:
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bans the importation, processing, and distribution of
asbestos-containing products within two years of
enactment of the bill;
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provides for education on the dangers of asbestos and
known treatment strategies;
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provides for more research and improves data collection
on asbestos-related diseases; and
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creates a network of at least 10 extramural
asbestos-related disease research and treatment centers
across America.
H.R. 3339 has been referred to the House Energy and Commerce
(E&C) Committee, on which I serve. Please know that I
will keep your views and experiences in mind as H.R. 3339 or
other legislation seeking to improve treatment for and reduce
the incidence of mesothelioma is considered by the E&C
Committee or the full House of Representatives.
Again, thank you for sharing your views. Your opinion matters
to me. If I can be of service to you in any other way, please
do not hesitate to let me know. As a security precaution, all
mail sent to Congress is first irradiated. This process
causes significant delays. To ensure the fastest response, I
encourage all constituents who have access to the internet to
contact me through my website at http://tammybaldwin.house.gov.
Sincerely,
Tammy Baldwin
Member of Congress
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