The AFL-CIO has supported and continues to support the establishment of a federal asbestos trust fund to compensate asbestos victims for their injuries through a no-fault system to replace the present civil litigation system. The AFL-CIO has reviewed in detail Senator Specter’s new draft bill that is a result of discussions with Judiciary Committee Republicans and Senators Leahy and Feinstein.

The draft proposal includes some important improvements such as increases in award levels for some disease categories and a bar against any liens on workers compensation awards. At the same time, however, the draft has a number of serious deficiencies that must be corrected. These include the elimination of compensation for a large group of lung cancer victims, without allowing these individuals to document asbestos exposure through CT scans, and the absence of remedies for victims during the startup period before the Fund is able to pay claims. In addition, there are a set of issues, such as the statute of limitations, preemption and the treatment of claims if the Fund sunsets, that will determine whether the compensation system works as intended for deserving claimants.

We will continue to work with Senators to attempt to resolve these important issues.

Contact Suzanne Ffolkes 202-637-5018