Blog

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) has been fighting to ban asbestos in the United States since 2004. Recently, Congress delayed the vote on ADAO’s Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act (ARBAN).

We are approaching the New Year; if Congress does not pass ARBAN before then, the ADAO will have to begin again with hearings and committee votes. If the ban is delayed further, it is estimated that another 1,200 tons of asbestos will be imported into the US-exposing more Americans to asbestos.

The ADAO is confident that with bipartisan support, the bill will move forward.

Here is why passing ARBAN is important:

• It is vital to the safety of American public health—many Americans die each year from asbestos-caused diseases, yet asbestos imports and use continue.
• Without a ban on asbestos, Americans will continue to be exposed to this deadly carcinogen and lives will continue to be lost.
• ARBAN would protect public health by prohibiting all six types of asbestos plus Libby Amphibole winchite and richerite; conducting a legacy asbestos study done by the National Academy of Sciences and creating mandatory asbestos reporting under the Chemical Data Reporting rule.
• ARBAN is the most comprehensive asbestos ban bill to amend the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) in 30 years.
• The chlor-alkali industry will transition to non-asbestos technology.
• Required studies on legacy asbestos by the National Academy of Sciences.

ADAO hopes that Congress can reconcile any issues and concerns and pass ARBAN so it can move to the Senate and finally, be signed into law.

About the ADAO

The President and CEO of the ADAO, Linda Reinstein, is a former client of Brayton Purcell, LLP. Mrs. Reinstein’s husband, Alan Reinstein, was diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Call our office today to inquire more about the ADAO and its potential impact.