Posted on November 7, 2018

I can’t lie — it was a nail-biting night of election returns. Sadly, some of the stalwart asbestos ban supporters have lost their seats.

Since the 2016 election of Donald Trump, there has been a significant spike in asbestos imports, especially in August of this year, when imports rose nearly 2,000 percent. While imports and use continue to increase, so does the mortality rate as nearly 40,000 Americans die each year from asbestos-related diseases.

The Senate will remain in control of the GOP; however, the Democrats have gained control of the House. What does that mean for an asbestos ban and research for a cure? Well, let me share my predictions. With control of the House, new Democratic leadership on powerful committees will wield huge oversight powers that can be brought to bear on the Trump administration. Overall, the biggest victory for our struggle will be control of the House Energy and Commerce Committee which  can hold oversight hearings to discuss Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) statutory violations, the EPA’s Office of Inspector General reports about EPA’s failures with asbestos in schools, and the repositioning of money for asbestos in schools to lead would be a good start!

Unfortunately, Trump’s love for asbestos won’t be waning any time soon. Imports are likely to continue and I predict that in 2019, the Senate will introduce pro-asbestos industry legislation that benefits the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and/or American Chemistry Council (AAC). Trust me – we’re going to be running another marathon – but my shoes are tightly laced up to finish this race. Each House hearing will raise awareness, and hold the EPA and Republicans accountable for allowing the man-made asbestos disaster to continue.  

With Trump and his EPA appointees – many of them former industry lobbyists – controlling the EPA, asbestos imports and use will undoubtedly continue. In fact, Trump is no stranger to asbestos. He once said the World Trade Center would still be standing if it had been built with asbestos and bragged about loving the lethal carcinogen in his Art of the Deal book.

Your support is important now more than ever. So long as most Americans cannot identify or manage the risks of asbestos, our movement will continue its fight for education and prevention. In a world where asbestos has been banned in more than 60 nations, the US is leading a race to the bottom and, as a result, the deadly chemical continues to is spilling into the nation at higher rates.

According to ADAO’s research, from the Department of Commerce U.S. International Trade Commission, in August alone the U.S. imported 272 metric tons of asbestos, compared to the 13 metric tons in July of 2018. This striking increase is a major indicator that industry is not concerned about President Trump and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) taking any steps to ban or even reduce the use and import of asbestos.

Companies importing large quantities of asbestos are not required to report their activities to EPA or disclose reports to the public. The EPA must use its authority under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to require the disclosure of these reports.

Two ADAO actions, legislative and legal, bring us closer to a ban. 

First, the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act (ARBAN): S.2072 and H.R.5114 would finally ban asbestos. ARBAN is sponsored by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR). Senate cosponsors include: Cory Booker (D-NJ), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Jon Tester (D-MT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). House of Representatives cosponsors include: Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Jim McGovern (D-MA), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH), and Ted Lieu (D-CA).

Secondly, our Right to Know Petition legal action, submitted to the EPA on September 25th, 2018, demands that EPA require reporting from industry about where asbestos is being imported to and where it is being used.  

Sensible regulation isn’t unprecedented and there are many regulations that  effectively protect public health, safety, and the environment. For example, less than 200 Americans die each year from peanut allergies; however, manufacturers are required to put a warning label on all products containing peanuts. In comparison, 40,000 Americans die from asbestos-related diseases every year, yet there is no comparable regulation in place.

We are standing strong together and won’t waver in our commitment to see that EPA bans asbestos without loopholes or exemptions.

Finally, ADAO wants to thank all of the lawmakers who have been fiercely dedicated to regulatory action to prohibit imports and use, no matter the results of their races.,  Additionally, we would like congratulate and welcome those new and returning lawmakers who will be assuming their constitutional responsibilities this coming January. ADAO looks forward to working with you all in the future.  

We are excited Democrats have taken back the House but it is still a long road ahead to ban asbestos. Rest assured, we will continue our fight, and yes, we will win.

Linda Reinstein
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