Posted on February 27, 2026
For the twenty-first Senate National Asbestos Awareness Week (April 1–7) Resolution, Senator Jeff Merkley (OR-D) has once again stepped forward as its champion, reinforcing an enduring commitment to prevention, education, and the protection of public health.
Since 2017, Senator Merkley has served as the Senate sponsor of the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now (ARBAN) Act. Together, these efforts reflect sustained leadership to fully prohibit the importation and use of asbestos in the United States. His continued sponsorship of ARBAN demonstrates a consistent and comprehensive approach that pairs annual awareness through the Resolution with meaningful legislative action aimed at ending exposure altogether.
For decades, the bipartisan Resolution has served as the foundation of Global Asbestos Awareness Week (GAAW), reinforcing the urgent need to prevent exposure to a known carcinogen that continues to claim tens of thousands of lives each year. Each year, the Resolution passes unanimously and does far more than designate a week of recognition. It affirms the scientific consensus that there is no safe level of asbestos exposure and underscores the importance of prevention, early detection, and policy reform.
Through steady leadership on both the National Asbestos Awareness Week Resolution and ARBAN, Senator Merkley has helped ensure that the Senate continues to acknowledge the human toll of asbestos and the necessity of sustained federal action.
As momentum builds across the United States and around the world, GAAW continues to unite voices in a clear call to end asbestos exposure once and for all. Throughout the week, ADAO leads global efforts to convene international partners, advocates, and experts to share knowledge, honor victims, and advance prevention strategies that save lives. Educational materials are translated into seven languages, reflecting the reality that asbestos is a global crisis requiring coordinated action across borders.
As support grows for the Resolution and for comprehensive federal action, Senator Merkley’s leadership strengthens the call for prevention, advancing the shared goal of a safer, healthier, asbestos-free future.
Read more about the comprehensive history of U.S. Senate Resolutions and Surgeon General warnings for National Asbestos Awareness Week (2005–2025) here.
Sen. Merkley, on behalf of ADAO, thank you for being you!
Linda Reinstein
