(Washington, D.C.) – Today the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW), along with more than 100 other business, veteran and community leaders, called upon Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R–Tenn.) to bring to a vote the Fairness in Asbestos Resolution Act (FAIR Act). 

“Asbestos litigation reform is long over due,” CCAGW President Tom Schatz said.  “Millions of dollars are annually wasted on fraudulent suits, causing job loss and burdening taxpayers.”

The FAIR Act establishes a multi-billion dollar trust fund, financed by defendant companies and their insurers.  No taxpayer or government funds will be used.  The Act will also put an end to fraudulent lawsuits and limit the actions of trail lawyers. 

More than 730,000 individuals have brought forward legal claims related to asbestos, with an estimated 300,000 claims currently pending.  Studies have found that up to 90 percent of these claims were by people who have not suffered any physical impairment. 

“The FAIR Act will fix the current system, which is obviously broken, and ensure that small business, our economy, and true asbestos victims are no longer harmed by these phony lawsuits,” continued Schatz. 

“Senator Frist should take immediate action to bring the FAIR Act to a vote.  The Senate must pass this crucial legislation so that asbestos victims are fairly compensated, small businesses are not forced into bankruptcy, and taxpayers are no longer burdened,” concluded Schatz.

The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste is the lobbying arm of Citizens Against Government Waste, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government.