Senators should approve asbestos act

"Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor have a good record of tackling the issue of asbestos head-on. Just this past May, our Senators were instrumental in securing federal funds to rid a closed service station at the Camden Port Authority of petroleum and asbestos contaminants.

For health reasons, it's important to remove these harmful materials. If inhaled, asbestos can cause fatal diseases like cancer. Both Senators will have a chance to aid those who have already been exposed to the harmful material this January when the Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution (FAIR) Act is brought to the Senate floor for consideration.

Victims of asbestos exposure are currently stuck in a bloated legal mess, unable to receive timely or adequate compensation.

More than 700,000 people have filed suit, overwhelming the courts. And there are many more victims out there who aren't even able to seek legal restitution. For example, veterans exposed to asbestos are prevented by law from suing their former employer, the U.S. government. It's not widely known, but many veterans got sick from breathing in asbestos during their years of service at military facilities like Navy shipyards.

The FAIR Act would establish a trust fund for all asbestos victims who are sick and suffering. It would provide fast co"