The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change voted unanimously Sept. 26 to move the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2019 to the full House. The bill is sponsored by Oregon U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici and Sen. Jeff Merkley. The vote was held on National Mesothelioma Awareness Day. Mesothelioma is a disease caused by exposure to asbestos.
“It is long past time to protect workers and communities by banning asbestos once and for all, and I look forward to working with the Senate and getting this bill across the finish line,” Bonamici said in a press statement.
“While the EPA fiddles, Americans are dying,” said Merkley in a press statement. “More than 60 other nations have already recognized asbestos as the deadly substance it is, and acted to protect their citizens with the obvious response: A ban on asbestos.”
The bill would ban the mining, importation, use, and distribution in commerce of asbestos, and any asbestos-containing mixtures in the United States.
