Senate Prepares to Debate Asbestos Bill

By Ramsay Crooks

Published on November 16, 2005

The debate will begin in January 2006 and, if approved, the fund will provide compensation to thousands of victims suffering from asbestos exposure in the United States. The funds will be managed by the U.S. Labor Department and will be financed by business groups, insurers and companies that used asbestos in their products.

In order to receive compensation from the fund, asbestos victims would have to agree not to sue.

Abestos exposure causes mesothelioma, a progressive, and usually fatal, form of lung cancer.