Oppose Senate Bill 1125 Florida
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June 12, 2003 Dear Senator Graham, I am writing in regards to the "Asbestos Injury Resolution Act" sponsored by Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah. I feel sure that Senator Hatch has never had a relative or friend affected by this most horrendous and most painful of all cancers. I have. My Father. He was a man of integrity and one who preached ethics and morality to three daughters. Although we grew up poor, public assistance of any kind was never an option for my family. My father left the farm in North Carolina and joined the Navy to give his family a better life. This is where he was exposed to asbestos. He started as boiler room worker. Ships were refurbished and enlisted men were required to stay on the ship where asbestos covered all the things, including beds, food and clothing. My father was never sick a day in his life. He was never a drain in insurance or sick leave from the State of N. C. where he became a trusted employee and supervisor. As you know, asbestos poisoning shows up in an individual some 25 to 30 years after exposed. My father had been having intense pain and was diagnosed with Mesothelioma in September of 1997. We did the research and saw what lay ahead for our hero, a fate that broke our family's heart. Three daughters and a wife with her own career put their lives on hold to care for and support our hero through something so dreadful I cannot put into words. My father ended up supporting us through the ordeal. Savings were lost. Jobs were lost. All of this was through no fault of our own. We lost our hero 14 months later and the suffering ended only for my father. My mother lost her high school sweetheart as well as her home. Unable to continue to work, we moved my mother in with her daughters. This is just one family's story. Please Senator Graham, Do Not let this law go into effect. It will help no asbestos victim. Why should we bail out large corporations at the expense of poisoned men and women? I hope there is a better solution. Families of these injured need your support. Sincerely, Cynthia A. Jordan
*** POSTED ON SEPTEMBER 2, 2003 *** |