"Opening Statement of Hon. Jeff Merkley, a U.S. Senator from Oregon; Chair, Congressional-Executive Commission on China."
"In closing, given what we know today, asbestos is public enemy No. 1 and must be banned now."
"So in a situation like 9/11, when there was legacy asbestos from the building materials in the air, could fire fighters have breathed in hundreds or thousands of fibers in a short period of time?"
"So, a very complicated process, subject to court challenges. We have been at this since 1989, and EPA has failed us now for 3+ decades."
"But those companies that transitioned, did they go out of business because of these higher costs you are referring to?"
"Here in the United States, however, we have failed to do the same."
"I know that you have been immersed in this issue for a long time."
"And the way to look at it holistically is to say let's quit importing it, like 60+ major developed nations have done."
"Thank you very much. With your permission, we will submit the entire testimony for the record."
"For generations, we have known the harmful and lethal effects of asbestos and the grave threat it poses to public health."
"Thank you, Chairman Merkley, for supporting the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act, which is rooted in medical evidence that establishes causation between asbestos and cancer."