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Merkley y Bonamici aplauden la votación del Subcomité de la Cámara de Representantes sobre su proyecto de ley para prohibir el asbesto

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici today applauded the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change’s unanimous vote to pass their Alan Reinstein Ley de Prohibición del Asbesto Ahora de 2019.

“Es indignante que en el año 2019 todavía se permita el asbesto en los Estados Unidos”, dijo Merkley. “While the EPA fiddles, Americans are dying. More than 60 other nations have already recognized asbestos as the deadly substance it is, and acted to protect their citizens with the obvious response: A ban on asbestos. It’s time for us to catch up to the rest of the developed world, and end this dangerous public health threat once and for all.”

“Today, on National Mesothelioma Awareness Day, the House Energy and Commerce Committee took the critical first step of passing my bill, the Ley de prohibición del amianto de Alan Reinstein ahora, through a subcommittee,” said Rep. Suzanne Bonamici. “I commend Chairmen Pallone and Tonko and Ranking Members Walden and Shimkus for their clear commitment to working in a bipartisan manner to get this legislation through the full committee and passed in the House. It is long past time to protect workers and communities by banning asbestos once and for all, and I look forward to working with the Senate and getting this bill across the finish line.”

La Ley de Prohibición del Asbesto Ahora de Alan Reinstein de 2019 prohibiría la extracción, importación, uso y distribución en el comercio de asbesto, un carcinógeno conocido, y cualquier mezcla que contenga asbesto en los Estados Unidos de América. El proyecto de ley lleva el nombre de Alan Reinstein, quien falleció en 2006 a la edad de 66 años de mesotelioma, una enfermedad causada por la exposición al asbesto. La esposa de Alan, Linda, cofundó la Organización de Concientización sobre la Enfermedad del Asbesto (ADAO) en 2004. 

“Today’s markup is yet another landmark step toward passing the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2019,” dijo Linda Reinstein, cofundadora de ADAO. “It was especially powerful to see the bipartisan support for advancing the bill on Mesothelioma Awareness Day. I’m grateful to Senator Merkley, Congresswoman Bonamici, and Chairman Pallone for their hard work to move this bill forward, and I look forward to continuing to partner with them to get this bill over the finish line.”