March 7th, 2007

An asbestos bill aiming to ban the importation, manufacture, distribution, and processing of asbestos products has been re-introduced by US Senator Patricia Murray. The Ban Asbestos in America Act of 2007 also aims to create a fifty million dollar research and treatment network relating to asbestos, as well as calling for increased public awareness about asbestos and its dangers.

The senator claimed that up to ten thousand Americans had already died from exposure to asbestos. She stated: “How many more Americans have to die before our government finally does the right thing and bans asbestos? We have to do the right thing, and we have to do it now.”

She added: “I've been at this for 6 years. This is my third bill, and I know we cannot wait another year to fix this problem.” She said that over a dozen senators were supporting the bill including Hillary Clinton and the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO).

A spokesperson for the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization stated: “We commend Sen. Murray for all of her efforts to ban asbestos in the United States. Sen. Murray has shown great strength and leadership as she leads the fight to have this deadly substance banned forever – which will save thousands of lives by preventing asbestos-related illnesses and paving the road to recovery for victims and their families.”