[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 53 (Thursday, April 22, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S4287]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           FAIRNESS IN ASBESTOS INJURY RESOLUTION (FAIR) ACT

  Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, earlier today I voted in favor of invoking 
cloture on the motion to proceed to S. 2290, the Fairness in Asbestos 
Injury Resolution Act. My vote was not an endorsement of S. 2290 as it 
was introduced in the Senate. I recognize that concerns have been 
raised about specific provisions of the bill, and I would consider 
supporting amendments to S. 2290 if the Senate has an opportunity to 
fully debate this legislation.
  However, I am very concerned about shortcomings in the current 
system, and support legislating a bipartisan solution that offers a 
fairer, more efficient process for compensating asbestos victims. For 
this reason, I voted for cloture on S. 2290 in an effort to move the 
debate forward.

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