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Patty Murray's Washington View

Date: March 26, 2004
Issues: Health and Health Care


PATTY MURRAY'S WASHINGTON VIEW

U.S. Senator Patty Murray's Weekly Report to the People of Washington - March 26, 2004

Doctors, Senators Join My Call to Ban Asbestos

This week I joined with Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), Sen. Mark Dayton (D-Minn), two doctors, and dozens of asbestos victims and family members to urge Congress to improve the asbestos-liability bill that will be brought to the Senate floor next month.

Asbestos is taking a terrible toll in our state, which ranks 8th nationally in the number asbestos related deaths. King County has the fourth-highest number of deaths related to asbestos in the country. Three other counties - Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish - all rank in the top 100 for asbestos-related deaths.

For the past three years, I have led the effort in Congress to ban asbestos, increase public awareness, and improve research and treatment for patients with asbestos-related diseases. My bill, the Ban Asbestos in America Act, would:

•Ban asbestos in the United States,

•Educate the public & workers about the its risks,

•Improve research and treatment for asbestos disease victims,

•Expand EPA's blue ribbon panel to better protect the public.

Last year, I got the first part of my bill added to the Senate's asbestos liability proposal, and now I'm working to add the rest. Read my speech and statements from doctors here:

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