[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 12 (Monday, January 22, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S790-S791]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING LES SKRAMSTAD

  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a Montanan 
who died Saturday night at his home in Libby, MT. Libby is a small town 
up in the northwest corner of my State.
  Les Skramstad was not only an outspoken advocate for his town, which 
was horribly wronged at the hands of W.R. Grace, but he was also my 
friend.
  I first met Les in Libby in the year 2000, shortly after news reports 
attributed hundreds of deaths to asbestos exposure from decades of 
vermiculite mining there.
  We sat down in Gayla Benefield's living room. There were about 25 
people who were very ill. Over huckleberry pie and coffee, the group 
explained to me the horrific legacy Grace had left behind. And although 
I had read the reports and briefing papers on the situation, that was 
the first time I had seen asbestos exposure up close. And, it was gut 
wrenching. I will never forget it--as long as I live.
  They opened their hearts and poured out unimaginable stories of 
suffering and tragedy. I was absolutely stunned. It was at that moment 
that I vowed to myself that I'll do whatever it takes to help Libby 
become whole again.
  Entire families--fathers, mothers, uncles, aunts, sons and daughters 
are all sick. Hundreds are dead.
  They are bound together by one thing: their exposure to tremolite 
asbestos, mined by W.R. Grace.
  That night at Gayla's, when I first met Les, he watched me closely 
all evening. He was wary and came up to me after his friends and 
neighbors had finished speaking.
  Les said to me, ``Senator, a lot of people have come to Libby and 
told us they would help, then they leave and we never hear from them 
again.''
  ``Max,'' he said, ``please, as a man like me--as someone's father 
too, as someone's husband, as someone's son, help me. Help us. Help us 
make this town safe for Libby's sons and daughters not even born yet.''
  Les worked at the vermiculite mine starting in 1959. He told me about 
the dust he swept every day--off of three separate floors at the mine. 
And although company officials said the dust was harmless, that's what 
ultimately took his life. And that dust is what has made his wife and 
children sick, too.
  You see, that dust was laden with tremolite asbestos fibers. When he 
got home, he would hug his wife. His kids would jump up in his lap.
  I think he was less worried about his own fate. It was as if Les had 
accepted that he was going to die. But the thing that got to him most 
was that he brought that dust home with him. He wanted justice for his 
family and friends. That night I told him I would do all that I could. 
That I wouldn't back down. That I wouldn't give up.

  Les accepted my offer and then pointed his finger and said to me, 
``I'll be watching Senator.''
  I knew Les would. I also knew he didn't have to because I had already 
vowed to myself I would do all I could, even without Les' 
encouragement.
  Over the years Les and I worked together to help Libby. We became 
friends in the process. I counted on seeing him every time I went to 
Libby. I have been up to Libby almost 20 times since then. I talked to 
Les on the phone. I visited him in the hospital.
  Les is my inspiration in the fight to get Libby a clean bill of 
health and justice for its residents. He is the face of hundreds and 
thousands of sick and exposed folks in this tiny Montana community.
  Les--working with others in the community--became an outspoken 
advocate for Libby. He put a personal face on asbestos contamination. 
He provided a straightforward look into the lives of people hurt by 
Grace and the poisonous asbestos fibers they left behind. Les was a 
true Western gentleman. And he was very effective.
  It has been 8 years since this tragedy first came to light. We have 
made a lot of progress in Libby.
  We launched the Center for Asbestos Related Diseases, which has 
screened and provided health care to thousands of Libby residents.

[[Page S791]]

  We kicked the EPA into gear and got Libby listed as a national 
Superfund site.
  We secured millions for cleanup, health care, and economic 
development in Libby.
  But sadly, there is still much more to do. Much more. Libby residents 
deserve compensation for their injuries. They deserve health care. They 
deserve to see those responsible go to prison for what they did. They 
deserve to know that their town is clean of asbestos.
  What I knew about Les makes this news very sad to me, personally. I 
am sad for his family. I am sad for his friends. I am sad for Libby.
  I am also angry at W.R. Grace, which knowingly poisoned its workers. 
I am angry that justice still has not been done in Libby. I am angry 
that we haven't been able to do more.
  But we won't give up. We will keep fighting for Les and Libby. Les' 
passing only furthers my resolve to try harder. To do more. We won't 
let up. We will not stop.
  When I get tired, I think of Les. And I can't shake what he asked me 
to do.
  In all of my years as an elected official, helping Libby is among the 
most personally compelling things I have ever been called on to do.
  I will keep the promise I made to Les that night at Gayla's house.
  Les was a fighter to the end. He recently minced no words about his 
feelings towards Grace.
  He told the Missoulian newspaper, quote: ``There's not a doubt in my 
mind that [they] are guilty of murder.''
  ``I started in 1959 and I was as healthy as a horse,'' he said. ``I 
knew all the guys that worked there, 135 employees when I was there. 
And there's five of us left alive. Five. The rest of them are gone.''
  Now, sadly, so is Les.
  The Book of Proverbs says: ``righteousness delivers from death.'' And 
if that is true, then Les will certainly be delivered.
  My prayers are with Les' wife Norita, his family and friends, and the 
people of Libby.
  I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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