Senate Bill Aims to Deny Compensation to 9/11 Heroes

By: William Gallahue
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:24:52
Print this article | Tell a friend | For publisher | Social Bookmarking
Rating:
 

Washington-One by one, from veterans and their families to health organizations to doctors have come out against congressional plans to limit asbestos litigation. Yet members of the US Senate are defying their calls and continuing to push for corporate sponsored legislation against victims of asbestos exposure.

The "Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act of 2005" came to existence shortly after March of 2004 after Pres. Bush. proposed limits on asbestos related "junk" lawsuits at a speech in Detroit.

Originally introduced by Sen. Orrin Hatch, the Act would establish a $140 billion trust fund to supplant litigation as a means to compensate victims of asbestos and limit liability.

On April 26, 2005, Dr. Philip Landrigan, Professor of Occupational and Environmental Medicine and Chairman of the Department of Community and Preventive Medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, testified before the US Senate Committee on the Judiciary against this proposed legislation.

He testified that many of the bill's provisions are unsupported by medicine and would unfairly exclude a large number of people who have become ill or died from asbestos: "The approach to the diagnosis of disease caused by asbestos that is set forth in this bill is not consistent with the diagnostic criteria established by the American Thoracic Society. If the bill is to deliver on its promise of fairness, these criteria will need to be revised." Also opposing the bill are the American Public Health Association and the Asbestos Workers Union.

The bill was initially defeated last year but has stuck around the Senate Judiciary Committee which last week approved new amendments to the bill including support for those exposed during 9/11 and hurricane Katrina.

However the bill includes an exposure length minimum of 5 years which effectively eliminates both groups.

According to reports, the air they were breathing during the attacks was equivalent to Drano and scorched many rescuers mouths, throats, and nasal passages.

They went through some of the most difficult moments in America’s history, so we should support them during this difficult time.

-William Gallahue

For more information on asbestos exposure please visit Mesothelioma and Asbestos

Article source: Expert Articles

Most Recent Articles in Culture & Society category

  • The Traditions of Gift Giving in the Philippines - By: Timothy Spencer
    Asian cultures such as the Philippines have a deep traditions regarding gift giving. This article discusses these different traditions and gives an overview of the kinds of gifts Filipinos appreciate.
  • The Message Conveyed By Your Car's Color - By: Scott Conklin
    A look at what the color of your car says about your personality
  • World Heritage Sites in Barcelona - By: Greg Lee
    A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Program administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State Parties (countries) which are elected by the General Assembly of States Parties for a fixed term.
  • Preventing Crime from Happening to You - By: Maraya Mullen
    Do you have a wireless security camera system at your home and office? If not, maybe it's time you consider having one installed.
  • The History and Resurgence of Alibata - By: Maraya Mullen
    The recent years has seen a revival of sorts in the popularity of the alibata, the Philippines' pre-Spanish writing system. From being an ancient script mentioned only in passing in classes in Philippine History, alibata has gained enough popularity to inspire the creation of hundreds of web sites dedicated to it.
  • Pepper Spray as a Non-Lethal Self-Defense Tool - By: Ajeet Khurana
    Self defense is your right. Pepper sprays can be the ideal tool.
  • Social Clubs: Then and Now - By: Maraya Mullen
    The article describes the different changes the social club -a place we now all now to be a venue for corporate business events or throwing a club party, --has undergone.
  • Fire Safety Standards In Ireland - How Safe Are We - By: Paul Leahy
    A leading Fire Safety expert has recently queried the soundness of statutory fire safety regulations. Lack of enforcement of Fire Safety regulations exposes the consumer to the consequences of outbreaks of fire in domestic and other buildings in this country.Norman Campbell, resident of Wicklow town and Fire Safety Consultant with extensive experience in The Mainland U.
  • Behind The Scenes Of Specialized Literature - By: Julien Santini
    If like me you are highly specialized in a scholar field and if you are a regular user of auction websites, you may have already chanced upon those sellers proposing $150+ books for just a few bucks. Logically, you must have thought that those resellers are illegal, that their items are fakes, or worse, that their only business is to swindle gullible people. Wrong.
  • Employment - By: Sharon White
    Under-employment results in under-consumption combined with under-investment caused by the extremely high a rate of interest. Theoretically, it is possible to influence both these factors. Under-consumption is due in large measure to the fact that many consumers are limited in the satisfaction of their needs by too small an income, while a minority do not consume the whole of their incomes.