Asbestos Victims Gain Ground in D.C. Senate Bill 852 (FAIR Act), Asbestos Trust Fund Legislation

Breakthrough for asbestos victims and their families

http://www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org/eLibrary/DCWrap.doc

Congress responds to their constituents. ItÕs through your letters, phone calls, stories, and donations to ADAO, that enables us to advocate fair and just legislation for present and future victims. That is the power of grassroots. ~ Doug Larkin, Communications Director & Cofounder

Nearly one year of careful behind-the-scenes ADAO work on Capitol Hill paid off on Tuesday, when two ADAO volunteers were recognized before the Senate Judiciary Committee, effectively establishing asbestos disease victims as a stakeholder group in the asbestos litigation controversy. We have helped to defeat Senate Bill 1125 and S. 2290 and pass Senate Resolution 43 Ð all in one year. Each volunteer contributed to these successes.

Stakeholder meeting and Press Conference Ð Monday, 4/25
ADAO and 7 other Organizations discussed the following key opposition points: ineligibility, compensation delays, faulty medical criteria and inadequate funding for research, education, prevention and outreach with Senator SpecterÕs staff and at the press conference. This meeting produced a joint statement on objections to the bill, which was reported Monday afternoon at a well-attended press conference in Washington and available online at: http://www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org/eLibrary/OppositionPoints.doc

Stakeholders Attendees included:
Jim Fite, National Secretary of White Lung Association, Rachel Lidov of 9/11 Environmental Action, Jonathan Bennett of New York City Occupational Safety and Health, Moses Boyd of Committee to Protect Mesothelioma Victims, Brent Kynoch of Environmental Information Association, and Dr. Arthur Frank of Drexel University, Committee to Protect Mesothelioma Victims (CPMV) & ADAO Maryland Representative Ellen Patton, ADAO Legislative Director Paul Zygielbaum, ADAO Executive Assistant Herman Hamilton, ADAO Communications Directors and Co-Founder Doug Larkin and ADAO Executive.

Michael Bowker, President of Asbestos Victims Organization, was unable to attend, but his opposition statement was read by the coalition.
Gayla Benefield was also unable to attend the meeting, but we presented a statement on behalf of the Asbestos Victim's Relief Organization.

ADAO thanks each of the following representatives for attending this first landmark "stakeholder" meeting.

Judiciary Committee Hearing Ð Tuesday, 4/26
Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) recognized two ADAO volunteers, Ellen Patton and Paul Zygielbaum, both of whom have mesothelioma, to stand up, to remind the committee of this human cost.

TuesdayÕs Judiciary Committee hearing revealed strong disagreements among stakeholder groups and committee members on various aspects of the bill. Senator DurbinÕs speech and recognition of mesothelioma victims appeared to shift the tenor of TuesdayÕs hearing, placing more emphasis on the rights of victims There was wide acknowledgement that the bill would be challenged in court on various unconstitutional grounds, throwing victims and their families into a legal limbo for years. Other concerns were expressed about unfair medical criteria and about the lack of transparency in what companies will pay into the fund.

Committee members proposed more than 80 amendments at ThursdayÕs mark-up. The Judiciary Committee is schedule to reconvene on May 12th to continue the debate.

ADAO volunteers left with a sense of optimism that our voice is being heard and acknowledged on Capitol Hill, and that we have the opportunity and ability to affect the fate and provisions of this legislation. Please direct your legislative questions to Action@AsbestosDiseaseAwareness.org

ADAO will launch our S. 852 Legislative Campaign Action Steps on our website on Monday, May 2nd
http://www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org/eLibrary/legislativeS852.doc

We will have opposition letters available online for victims, doctors, and veterans to fax to their U.S. Senators and Congressional Representative.

To view Senate Bill 852 click:
http://www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org/eLibrary/FAIR041905.PDF

To read Linda ReinsteinÕs testimony that has been entered into the record click:
http://www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org/eLibrary/testimony4-26-05.doc

Please encourage your medical team to read Reflections to learn more about Asbestos Diseases & the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization.
http://www.asbestosdiseaseawareness.org/eLibrary/Reflections.pdf

In unity and hope, change is possible.

Linda@AsbestosDiseaseAwareness.org