[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 172 (Friday, October 2, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H5645]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 FINDING A PATH FORWARD TO BAN ASBESTOS

  (Mr. SHIMKUS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, since last Friday, I have been working in 
good faith to find a path forward on a bill to ban asbestos. Democrats 
ended that effort yesterday evening.
  The bill passed the Energy and Commerce Committee with bipartisan 
support last November, but the majority added new language just last 
Friday.
  One minute is not enough to detail my concerns with that language or 
to describe every offer our side made to try to reach agreement. The 
committee record will have to speak for itself.
  The record shows the bill passed 47-1. Every Democrat on the 
committee voted for it. It shows the bill does not affect talc 
litigation. And it shows exactly which special interest objected, trial 
lawyers who didn't get exactly what they wanted.
  I want to offer my apologies to Linda Reinstein, who has been a 
tireless advocate for more than a decade and has fought the good fight 
in honor of her late husband, Alan, for whom this bill is named.
  We know the 47-1 bill I have right here could pass.

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