Posted on November 16, 2016
The presidential election has dominated much of the national conversation and all of our Facebook and Twitter feeds for many months now, but I’d like to take a moment to another change being ushered in to Washington.
Over our 13-year history, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization has been honored to have many Congressional champions. Sadly, two of the strongest and most impactful of those champions are have termed out of their Senate seats, and will soon be supplanted by shiny, new senators. As the nation prepares to pick their replacements, I would like to take a moment on behalf of ADAO to send Sens. Barbara Boxer and Harry Reid out with love and gratitude.
Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid was ADAO’s very first champion, and he gave us our wings. When he came to us with the very first Asbestos Awareness Senate Resolution in 2005, it sparked our very first press conference that gave us the visibility we needed to begin to grow. That press conference ultimately opened the door for ADAO to host its very first national conference at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York and led to crucial connections with the medical and scientific communities.
Senator Reid’s efforts to aid asbestos victims were so significant that in 2006 we created the Tribute of Hope Award to honor his work. In the years since, that award has gone to a number of lawmakers, and that’s because Sen. Reid gave us hope in the power of legislative process — the best path to protecting the American public from asbestos.
Senator Barbara Boxer and her unshakable staff have truly carried the torch for years. As the ADAO community knows, that’s been no easy feat — we have faced endless opposition. But through it all, she has been tough as nails and tenaciously genuine.
We owe Sen. Boxer some of the credit for giving rise to ADAO. She was one of the first senators I met with when Emily and I took our first trip to Washington. Watching her face as I told her about Alan gave me the confidence and courage to take on this battle — I knew I had a story that would resonate with people. Over the years, it’s become clear that this is about more than politics for Sen. Boxer — it’s about us, the people, and she’s signaled time and time again that she’s listening, and that she cares. She crystallized her role as an ADAO champion this year when she introduced the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2016. Sen. Boxer has epitomized what a champion is and continually inspired the ADAO community to keep fighting by showing us how far the “art of tough” can take you.
It’s nearly impossible for me to imagine the Senate floor without these powerhouse supporters in our corner; indeed, I certainly can’t think about it without getting emotional. Words can’t express how much I will miss these two mavericks, but I take heart knowing what phenomenal role models they have been for the remaining and future Senators to whom they’re passing the torch. With many great new Senators ascending to Congress, I’m excited to forge relationships with the new champions of our cause.
Senators Boxer and Reid, on behalf of each and every one of us at ADAO, you have earned our deepest respect and gratitude. Asbestos victims across the nation and beyond are forever indebted to your service.
Linda