Many people who were outspoken supporters of Senator Patty Murray’s (D-Wash.) proposed asbestos ban before the Senate unanimously voted in favor of the bill earlier this fall (see related story) now say that the version of the bill that the Senate passed was weakened to satisfy industry concerns. The original version of the bill called for a complete ban on asbestos, but the version of the bill that the Senate passed doesn’t cover many asbestos-containing products. Although Senator Murray says she passionately supports a ban on all asbestos products, she was forced to accept compromise to win votes that would allow the bill to pass. She says, despite the limitations, the ban is “a major step forward.” EPA scientists have expressed concern that the ban would not cover all products that contain asbestos. Asbestos-contaminated talc, like that recently found in children’s modeling clay, and asbestos-contaminated taconite or vermiculite could still be sold under the current version of the bill. Although the funding for research remains in the current version of the bill, lobbyists want to control how the research would be conducted. Senator Murray continues to resist industry control of research. Compromise is an inevitable part of the legislative process, but public health officials and asbestos victim advocates remain concerned that the compromises in the asbestos ban go too far and weaken the bill too much.
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