Opening Statement of Chairman Patty Murray:
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Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety
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“Asbestos: Still Lethal/Still Legal – The Need to Better Protect the Health of American Workers and Their Families”
 Audio of Senator Murray’s opening statement: http://murray.senate.gov/video/070301-murrayhelpos.mp3
MURRAY: I’m pleased to convene the first hearing of the Senate Employment and Workplace Safety Subcommittee for the 110th Congress. I want to thank our Ranking Member, Senator Isakson, our subcommittee members, and all of our witnesses for being here.The purpose of this hearing is to gather information on the need to ban asbestos, improve public awareness, and invest in research and treatment. But before I turn to policy, I want to introduce you to two people. Six years ago, I held my first hearing on asbestos in the workplace. One of the witnesses was George “Fred” Biekkola from Michigan.  Fred served in World War II. For almost 30 years, he worked for a mining company in Michigan, where he was exposed to asbestos. Fred testified at my first hearing on July 31, 2001. That hearing was held in this very room. He sat at the same witness table, and I’ll never forget what he told us. He said: “Senators, please make sure that what happened to me won’t happen to anyone else….Workers like me are counting on you to protect us. Please don’t let us down.”Â
I’m sad to say that we let Fred down. We didn’t ban asbestos. We didn’t warn the public. And we didn’t invest in research and treatment. Fred died of asbestosis and mesothelioma on April 7, 2004.Sadly, Fred is not the only advocate we’ve lost over the years because Congress has failed to act. This is Brian Harvey, a teacher from Marysville, Washington. Brian stood by my side as I introduced my first bill to ban asbestos in July 2002.  Most asbestos victims die within a year of being diagnosed. Brian lived for six years after his diagnosis. He knew he was living on borrowed time, so he used his time to fight for others. He stood by my side again in 2004 at another press conference, but sadly Brian died in July of 2005. Fred and Brian are not with us, but their words hang over this hearing. It’s estimated that each year, up to 10,000 Americans die every year from asbestos. I’ve been at this for six years, this is my third bill, and I know we cannot wait another year to fix this problem. The stakes are just too high. To anyone who says “we don’t need this bill,” I would just pose one question: How many more Americans have to die before our government finally does the right thing and bans asbestos? We have to do the right thing, and we have to do it now. As I look at this issue, four problems stand out.1. Asbestos is Deadly
 First, asbestos is deadly. It’s so deadly that there is no known safe level of exposure. It only takes a tiny bit of fiber to cause disease.Â
2. Asbestos is Widespread
 Second, asbestos is everywhere. It’s put into consumer and industrial products on purpose every day. We bought these brake pads in a store just three days ago. They contain asbestos. Brakes like these are on tens of thousands of cars. Anytime one of those cars gets their brakes repaired, a mechanic could be unknowingly exposed to deadly asbestos.
Fortunately, there are alternatives. These brake pads are made without asbestos, and they work just as well. We shouldn’t keep selling asbestos products and putting more and more workers and consumers at risk.  There are thousands of other products that contain asbestos including floor tiles, roofing material, cement pipes, and even hair dryers. 3. Asbestos is Still Legal
 Third, asbestos is still legal. Many Americans assume – as I did – that asbestos is already banned, but it’s not. In 1989, the EPA tried to ban asbestos, but most of those regulations were overturned in court (Texas’ 5th Circ.Court ) in 1991. As a result, while new applications for asbestos were banned, asbestos is still being imported and used in consumer and industrial products.
4. Strong Need for Research and Treatment
 Fourth, research and treatment for asbestos diseases are not very far along. Doctors have been hampered by the lack of research on how asbestos fibers actually cause disease and what treatment strategies work best. Industrial hygienists have been hampered by the lack of research on how to best measure asbestos fibers in the air.Â
The Ban Asbestos in America Act of 2007
 To address this national challenge, I’ve introduced the Ban Asbestos in America Act of 2007. First, my bill bans asbestos. It prohibits the importation, manufacture, processing and distribution of products containing asbestos.
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Second, my bill dramatically expands research and treatment. It creates a $50 million, 10-center “Asbestos-Related Disease Research and Treatment Network.” It creates a new National Asbestos-Related Disease Registry. It supports research at the Department of Defense and launches a study to determine the most promising areas for new research.Â
Finally, my bill launches a public education campaign to protect and inform Americans of the dangers and treatment options.Other Countries Are Protecting Their Citizens
 I know we can make progress. More than 40 other countries have banned asbestos. Around the world, chlorine producers are phasing out dangerous and inefficient methods in favor of safer and environmentally responsible technology. We need to help U.S. companies embrace new, greener approaches today.
A Panel of Distinguished Witnesses
 To help inform our work we’ve invited an expert panel of witnesses: Dr. Barry Castleman, Dr. Harvey Pass, Dr. Richard Wilson, Sue Vento, and John Thayer. I know each of them will provide us with useful information and unique perspectives. Again, thank you all for coming today to help America join other enlightened countries in banning asbestos.   Â
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