: People Over Profits

Asbestos manufacturers have known since the 1920's that their product injures and kills people exposed to it, yet they kept the deadly nature of their product a secret. Hundreds of thousands of workers and consumers have died or will die from diseases that result from asbestos exposure.

So how is Congress responding to these victims? By proposing legislation that would shield asbestos manufacturers from lawsuits and deny justice and fair compensation for the innocent victims of asbestos poisoning, depriving them of their day in court.

The trust fund that would be established to compensate victims under the so-called Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act (FAIR Act) is unfair, underfunded, unworkable and unconstitutional. It would make asbestos victims overcome huge new hurdles to prove that they are eligible - and if they are able to do this, they would then be forced to wait years for the compensation they deserve. And in a particularly outrageous provision of this bill, many who were exposed to asbestos in the World Trade Center collapse on 9/11 would be ineligible for compensation.

Take action today: sign this petition to your senators, and urge them to protect innocent victims of asbestos poisoning by OPPOSING the FAIR Act!

Text of petition:

Protect the Innocent Victims of Asbestos Poisoning
Dear Senators,

I urge you to oppose the so-called "Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution" Act. Stand up for victims of asbestos poisoning, not companies who put their bank books and balance sheets before workers' and consumers' lives.

For decades, asbestos companies kept it a secret that their product was slowly killing workers and their families, as well as the consumers of their products. It is unfair to restrict the rights of asbestos victims to hold these companies accountable for their wrongful actions.

If this bill becomes law, victims will have to wait years to be compensated for their injuries. They should not have to wait for trust fund administrators to decide IF and WHEN they will receive the money they need to fight the progression of their illness. Many will die waiting.

Also, people who have already been promised settlements or are awaiting their court dates would be forced to start over again in the trust fund - AFTER waiting as long as two years while the fund gets started. That's not right.

The "FAIR" Act is not FAIR to asbestos victims who were deceived by large asbestos companies who valued profits over people. I urge you to oppose S. 852.

Sincerely,

[Your name]