Updated on October 6, 2024

Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now (ARBAN) Act of 2024 Resource Page

Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now (ARBAN) Act of 2025 Reintroduced: A Renewed Push to End Asbestos Once and for All

Since 2016, Congress has introduced eight Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now (ARBAN) Acts, four in the House and four in the Senate. Most recently, the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now (ARBAN) Act of 2025 was reintroduced by Sen. Jeff Merkley in the Senate, and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici and Rep. Don Bacon as a bipartisan bill in the House. (S.2811 and H.R.5373) on September 16th, 2025. 

Each year, an estimated 40,000 Americans die from preventable asbestos-caused diseases. Nearly 70 countries have banned asbestos, yet asbestos imports and use continue in the United States. In 1989, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule banning asbestos-containing products. But due to industry legal challenges, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans overturned that regulation in 1991. That was the last time the U.S. attempted to ban asbestos. In the nearly 35 years since EPA attempted to ban asbestos, more than one million Americans have died from an asbestos-caused disease. 

  • Although in recent years, the EPA has taken landmark steps with its Part 1 and Part 2 Asbestos Risk Evaluation, the rule will be limited to the chrysotile form of asbestos. Therefore, it would not cover the five other deadly fiber types of asbestos. Thus, there would be no limitation on the future importation and use of these fibers. We need a complete ban on asbestos, which can be achieved with ARBAN.

Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2025 (S.2811 and H.R.5373):

EPA Part 1 and 2 Chrysotile Asbestos Proposed Rule

Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Acts in the U.S. Senate

Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Acts in the U.S. House of Representatives

There have been two ARBAN legislative hearings:

ARBAN would accomplish three critical public health objectives:

  1. Ban all asbestos imports and uses – covering all six recognized fibers, plus winchite and richterite. 
  2. Close loopholes left by EPA’s 2024 rule – ensuring protection against all types of asbestos and its potential future uses, not just limited chrysotile applications. 
  3. Provide long-term certainty – unlike regulatory rules subject to court challenges, ARBAN would be permanent law, immune to litigation delays or rollbacks.

Early 2025 ARBAN Supporters Include: 

  • American Public Health Association (APHA)
  • Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO)
  • Center for Environmental Health (CEH)
  • Collegium Ramazinni 
  • Environmental Information Association (EIA)
  • Environmental Working Group (EWG)
  • International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF)

2025 ARBAN Sponsors and Cosponsors Include: Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, Rep. Don Bacon, and Sen. Jeff Merkley