Posted December 1, 2015
As we get ready to ring in the new year, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) is proud to reflect on a year of progress and growth in increasing education, advocacy, and community efforts in the United States and around the world. We’d like to share a glimpse into some of our advocacy successes this year, thanks to the support of our incredible ADAO community.
Over the last year, our work in the U.S. congress has been more impactful and far-reaching than ever before. Since January, ADAO has remained a stakeholder in 7 U.S. congressional bills, passionately advocating on behalf of asbestos victims’ and American citizens’ rights in our nation. Additionally, for the 11th year in a row, ADAO worked with the Senate to secure the bipartisan 11th Annual “National Asbestos Awareness Week” Resolution which combines education, advocacy, and community to prevent exposure and ensure justice for asbestos victims. In July of this year, ADAO led its 8th Congressional Staff Briefing in Washington, D.C. entitled: “Asbestos: Impact on Consumer Safety, Public Health, and Asbestos Victims’ Civil Rights” to educate U.S. political leaders on the hazards of asbestos usage, consumption, and exposure. While our advocacy efforts grow, we know that the fight to ban asbestos is far from over. But we stay committed to raising awareness and driving action throughout the coming year to ultimately reach a ban on asbestos imports in the U.S.
Our active involvement in Washington inspires hope for the future of American public health. On September 24, 2015 ADAO sent a letter to the Senate urging the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate asbestos at Pennsylvania Superfund sites. On November 30, 2015, the U.S. Environment Protection Agency announced that it will conduct a routine inspection of the Ambler Asbestos Piles Superfund Site located in Ambler, PA using a drone mounted with a camera. Our voices are being heard by the administration and are strengthened thanks to citizen support and strategic partnerships.
Today, we are at a crucial moment. Asbestos is still found in homes, workplaces, and consumer products. Many Americans cannot identify asbestos and don’t know that asbestos is lethal. As a leader in prevention, ADAO needs your help and voice in Washington, D.C. to continue pushing for REAL reform and for legislation that protects American lives, not just American businesses’ profits.
For over a decade, ADAO has worked along side a number of other organizations to shine a light on the truth about the asbestos public health crisis and the asbestos industry’s effort to delay and deny asbestos victims’ justice. The time is now, to call your members of Congress at (866) 338-1015 and urge them to ban asbestos and protect victims’ civil rights today.
We look forward to entering 2016 with the support of our community as we will continue our collective efforts to ban asbestos in the U.S. and ensure that citizens of our international community are protected against the dangers of asbestos.
Together, we make change happen.
Linda
