December 6th, 2005

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has announced that the proposed asbestos compensation trust fund bill is to be given priority in the New Year, and will be one of the first bills to be looked at in 2006. The trust fund is designed to compensate those that have been affected through asbestos exposure and could be entitled to compensation for their injuries. This would replace the court system, where victims currently claim for compensation through a court trial.

Bill Frist stated: "Asbestos reform will be the first major piece of legislation that we consider in late January when we return." However, another official, Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada, said that this was a mistake, adding: "This bill is not acceptable in its current form. It's not even close."

One of the people that has been pushing this legislation is Senator Arlen Specter, and he stated: "It's going to be a battle but I think we have a realistic chance of winning." He added: "Of all of the items which could provide an economic stimulus to the U.S. economy, I think asbestos reform would be the most important."

The asbestos bill has already come under recent fire again after an analytical report suggested that it would run out of funding within just three years.