San Pedro, CA - Aug. 1,
2007 - 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.
"This is long overdue. The extreme dangers of asbestos
were known by the manufacturers for over sixty years yet
they continued to utilize it with no concern for the
public. Our thanks go out to Senator Murray for being at
the forefront for pushing this. It's unfortunate that
so many Americans had to die. For them, it is truly too
little, too late," said Douglas Gamble, vice-president
of the International Association of Heat and Frost
Insulators and Asbestos Workers.
Senator Murray's relentless fight to bring asbestos to
the brink of a public ban also earned high marks from Terry
Lynch, political and legislative director of the asbestos
workers' union. "We think it's wonderful.
It's long past due and this is certainly a step in the
right direction of eliminating the incredible horrors
caused by asbestos. No one knows the devastation caused by
asbestos better than the members of our union."
The asbestos workers union and its president, James A.
Grogan, have strongly supported this important legislation
to protect workers and the public.
The bill bans asbestos, a proven carcinogen responsible for
the largest public health disaster in American history, and
provides crucial funding for research to cure and treat
asbestos cancers such as mesothelioma.
"The Pacific Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute strongly supports Sen. Murray's Ban
Asbestos Act. PHLBI's programs emphasize prevention as
well as treatment and research, and this sends a powerful
signal about the government's commitment to decreasing
the risks of asbestos-related disease," said Jessica
Like, executive director of the institute. PHLBI's Dr.
Robert Cameron helped draft initial language for a National
Mesothelioma Research and Treatment Program originally
included in the proposed FAIR Act.
Asbestos and mesothelioma advocacy groups, including the
Mesothelioma
Applied Research Foundation and the Asbestos
Disease Awareness Organization, strongly supported the
bill, providing testimony, expertise, and effective
advocacy to support the bipartisan efforts that got the
bill out of committee.
"By turning anger to action, the victims, family
members, doctors, and ADAO are pleased to have taken part
in this landmark effort moving us closer to banning
asbestos, educating Americans about the deadly effects of
asbestos, and increasing funding for necessary research.
One life lost to asbestos is tragic. Hundreds of thousands
of lives lost is unconscionable," said Linda
Reinstein, mesothelioma widow, co-founder and executive
director of ADAO as she applauded Sen. Murray, Sen. Barbara
Boxer, Sen. James Inhofe, and Sen. Johnny Isakson for their
bipartisan efforts.
"The ongoing battle against asbestos is being fought
today by workers who toil in asbestos-poisoned tunnels
underneath our nation's Capitol," she added,
referring to House capitol power plant utility tunnel
hearings. "Congresswoman Betty McCollum announced at
today's hearings that she would introduce a companion
bill to Sen. Murray's bipartisan Ban Asbestos in
America Act this week. There truly is light at the end of
the tunnel."
Roger Worthington, an attorney and advocate who specializes
in asbestos and mesothelioma litigation, said
"Asbestos is the common enemy. Sen. Murray's
courageous work will help drive a stake through the heart
of this killer. Even today, worldwide asbestos production
has begun to uptick, as corporate greed seeks to ignore the
catastrophes of the past and once again exploit
Americans' health and safety for profit. Sen.
Murray's bill will ensure that this tragedy never again
occurs on U.S. soil.