U.S. Asbestos Fund Bill to Include 9/11 Victims

May 30, 2006 - According to an article published by Reuters, sponsors of legislation to compensate U.S. asbestos victims said on Friday they had expanded it to include access to payments for people sickened by the mineral as a result of disasters such as hurricanes or the Sept. 11 attacks.

As has been expected, Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter and Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy are trying to breathe life back into a Senate bill that would establish a $140 billion fund to compensate those who are ill from work-related asbestos exposure.  The bill was tabled in February.

Literally hundreds of thousands of claims have been brought against companies who manufactured or made use of asbestos or asbestos-containing products.  At this time, more than 70 companies have been forced to declare bankruptcy due to asbestos-related claims.  The bill promises to ease the burden on such companies, especially small businesses, in order to avoid further bankruptcies.

If this bill is passed, all claims would be paid from a central fund and individual injury claims would be removed from the courts.  The highest individual award of $1.075 million would go to victims of mesothelioma, a lethal form of cancer, according to the Reuters report.

First responders to the World Trade Center disaster have been greatly affected by the dangers of asbestos inhalation, with at least one worker already succumbing to mesothelioma.  Concerns have also been raised by rescue workers and others who’ve dealt with clean-up after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  Asbestos victims’ groups have campaigned for the inclusion in the bill for those affected by the disasters.