Congress Targets Asbestos Victims
Statement of Susan Harley, Deputy Director, Public Citizen’s Congress Watch Division
Note: The U.S. House of Representatives’ Judiciary Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law holds a hearing on the Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency Act (FACT Act) (H.R. 526) at 1 p.m. today. Read a letter from public interest groups to lawmakers for more details (PDF).
As if people sickened by asbestos had not suffered enough, along comes Congress to compound their misery.
A measure being considered by lawmakers today, the Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency Act (FACT Act) (H.R. 526), would delay compensation for those suffering with lethal diseases like mesothelioma. It also would require victims to publicly disclose personal information, such as portions of their Social Security numbers, thereby making them ripe for identity theft.
Asbestos was once ubiquitous as insulation and a flame retardant in buildings, homes and workplaces like naval vessels. Now it is recognized as a highly dangerous product. The frightening reality is that an unknown amount of the cancer-causing substance is still present in our surroundings, but the asbestos industry does not have to disclose where and when it was and is being used.
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February 6, 2015 @ 4:31 pm
[…] safe to eat and our financial system secure. House lawmakers also considered a measure that would further victimize people suffering from asbestos-related […]
February 8, 2015 @ 3:15 pm
Another shameful pro-corporate give-in by our for-sale politicians. Is decency ever to have a say?
February 8, 2015 @ 11:19 pm
I hate the lobbying industry. We the people have no such help!! This is just like Big Pharma, they are off the hook if a vaccine injures a person. You can’t sue them. You have access to a fund for help, but I’ve read that you have to jump through so many hoops for years that it is discouraging, and most people don’t end up getting the help. I hate politions who help the big Corporations and not the average citizen. You suck congress for siding with Big Money. Do your job and help protect the American citizen for whom you work!!!!