House Bills - 110th Congress

H. R. 3285 —The Ban Asbestos in America Act of 2007

On August 1, 2007, Representative Stephen Cohen (D-TN) introduced H.R. 3285, the Ban Asbestos in America Act of 2007. Provisions that would affect NIH include: (1) a requirement that HHS, acting through NIH and CDC, expand, intensify, and coordinate programs for research on asbestos-causing diseases; (2) the establishment of an asbestos-related disease registry maintained by CDC; (3) a requirement that the Director of NIH establish an asbestos-related disease research and treatment network, which would include the establishment of at least ten research and treatment centers, for Fiscal Years 2008 through 2012; and (4) a requirement that HHS, acting through the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, support research on asbestos-related diseases in collaboration with NIH, NIOSH, and other agencies the Secretary of HHS determines appropriate. These provisions are identical to the reported version of S. 742. H.R. 3285 was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Provisions that would affect NIH are identical to those in H.R. 3339 introduced by Representative Betty McCollum (D-MN), on August 2, 2007 and S. 742, which passed the Senate by unanimous consent on October 4, 2007.

Legislative Update (March 2008): Asbestos Research