After six years, the U.S. Senate finally, and unanimously, passed Senator Patty Murray’s Ban Asbestos in America Act last October. The act prohibits asbestos where present at more than 1% by weight, calls for a public education campaign about the dangers of asbestos exposure, and directs critically-needed federal research to begin to develop treatments for mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.

On Thursday February 28 at 12:30 PM EST, the House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a hearing on Minnesota Democrat Rep. Betty L. McCollum’s "Bruce Vento Ban Asbestos and Prevent Mesothelioma Act" (HR 3339); a piece of companion legislation to Sen. Murray’s. The act is dedicated to late Congressman Bruce Vento, who succumbed to mesothelioma in 2000.

Introduced in August, the bill’s proponents hope to get the President’s signature during this session of Congress.

More information from the Mesothelioma Center archives:

• 2/28/07 – Leading Asbestos-Cancer Group Urges Congress to Partner with Them and Support Funding Provisions in Asbestos Ban Legislation
• 2/12/08 – Tell Congress to Ban Asbestos
• 10/4/07 – Sen. Murray’s Asbestos Ban Passes Senate
• 9/4/07 – Environmental Working Group Applauds Senate Panel’s Passage of Landmark Asbestos Legislation
• 8/3/07 - Research Group Applauds Progress on Ban Asbestos Legislation
• 8/2/07 – “Bruce Vento Ban Asbestos and Prevent Mesothelioma Act” honors former MN Congressman, ends use of deadly substance, invests in health care for victims
• 8/1/07 – ADAO Applauds Unanimous Passage of Senator Patty Murray’s Ban Asbestos in America Act by U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works
• 7/18/07 – ADAO Leadership Testified Before U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works as Part of Expert Panel on Effects of Asbestos