(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray’s landmark bill to protect Americans from deadly asbestos passed the full Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) with unanimous, bipartisan support.
The 19-0 vote included strong support from EPW Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA). Next, the bill will head to the Senate floor. A date for floor consideration has not been set yet.
"I’m thrilled that the entire committee has sent a clear and loud message of support, giving us strong momentum heading to the Senate floor," Murray said. "To the families who have been waiting for help, to the workers who need to be protected, I’d say we’re almost there. We’ve made great progress in the past few months, but I’m not going to stop until we cross the finish line. I’m especially heartened that my bill has garnered unanimous bipartisan support in the EPW committee. I really want to thank Chairman Boxer for her commitment to moving this bill forward and Senator Isakson for his willingness to work in a bipartisan manner."
Murray’s bill would ban asbestos, invest in research and treatment, and launch a public education campaign.
Murray started working to ban asbestos six years ago. This March, she re-introduced her legislation as S. 742, the Ban Asbestos in America Act of 2007 (S. 742). On March 1st, Senator Murray held a hearing in her Employment and Workplace Safety Subcommittee on the bill. Then on June 12th, the bill got a hearing before the Environment and Public Works Committee, at which Senator Murray testified. On June 6, Murray discussed the bill’s progress at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, where she was joined by doctors, a patient, environmental experts, and advocates.
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