Senators Push for Asbestos Ban

Several senators are working together to finally ban asbestos in the U.S. once and for all.  Asbestos is the sole cause of a form of cancer known as mesothelioma. According to the Centers for Disease Control, more than 45,000 people in the U.S. died from mesothelioma between the years 1999 and 2015.

What the Bill Entails

The bill would amend the current Toxic Substances Control Act and require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to identify all known exposures to all forms of asbestos, as well as assess all uses of the deadly material in the U.S. It would mandate that the EPA restricts the use of asbestos to eliminate environmental and human exposure within 18 months of becoming law. In addition, it would require that commercial use, processing, and manufacturing of asbestos other than those described in the EPA rules be banned in the U.S. within a year.

Even though it is widely known that asbestos causes mesothelioma, the material remains legal in the United States. It has already been banned in most other developed countries around the world.

The following senators are sponsors of the bill:

• Cory Booker (D-NJ)
• Dick Durbin (D-IL)
• Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
• Edward J. Markey (D-MA)
• Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
• Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
• Jon Tester (D-MT)
• Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)

At Baron & Budd, we applaud the efforts of these senators to finally rid the country of asbestos. Please contact your U.S. Senate and House representatives and tell them you want asbestos eliminated from our country for good.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or passed away from the disease, we may be able to help. Please contact us online or call 855-280-7664 for more information.