Jeff Merkley

The Chinese Communist Party is intent upon committing cultural genocide. This must end.

The Chinese Communist Party has waged a years-long campaign of 'sinicization.'

Chinese authorities routinely violate Tibetans' freedom of religion, expression, and assembly.

Opening Statement of Hon. Jeff Merkley, a U.S. Senator from Oregon; Chair, Congressional-Executive Commission on China.

Tibetans continue to struggle in the face of unrelenting opposition.

It is way past time that America joined the other developed nations and end the importation and use of asbestos in manufactured products.

So my point is that we know that we have a commodity in this marketplace that is produced at a market price effectively.

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.

I will note that the process is new. It is relatively untested. It has all sorts of new complexities.

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?

As I started to have folks educate me about this, what I had not realized until I was involved in this bill...

And the way to look at it holistically is to say let's quit importing it, like 60+ major developed nations have done.

In closing, given what we know today, asbestos is public enemy No. 1 and must be banned now.

I believe it is far past time that we follow the lead of the rest of the developed world and protect our citizens from this deadly toxic substance.

Here in the United States, however, we have failed to do the same.

No. They took over two-thirds of the industry.

Any expert will convey that there is no level of exposure to asbestos that is safe for the human body.

I know that you have been immersed in this issue for a long time.

But those companies that transitioned, did they go out of business because of these higher costs you are referring to?

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.

Thank you very much. With your permission, we will submit the entire testimony for the record.

The threat posed by asbestos affects all Americans the same. It doesn't matter what party they belong to, and the solution should likewise protect all Americans.

For generations, we have known the harmful and lethal effects of asbestos and the grave threat it poses to public health.

Good. I will just note that as Mr. Simon testified, now two-thirds of the production is done by the new cell membrane.

I remain concerned about increasing access to income-driven repayment (IDR) plans.