Orrin Hatch: “as everybody knows, I have been working for months--actually perhaps longer than that--on an asbestos reform bill to try…”

“as everybody knows, I have been working for months--actually perhaps longer than that--on an asbestos reform bill to try to resolve the terrible asbestos problem we have in our society. I have indicated various deadlines throughout these months which I have set. I compliment the business community, the insurance community, the union community, and so many other companies that have been involved for their willingness to work with us. I think we are about there. We have a bill I am going to print in the Record this evening so everybody who is interested in this issue can read it and review it because I intend to file a formal bill this Thursday. I would like to have as many cosponsors as I can get on it because it will be the only way we will get this problem solved. This draft bill is not a formal bill. But I want it to be printed in the Record for all to see. It is a very important draft bill. I hope those who are interested will go over it with a fine-toothed comb and get with us over the next 2 days, if there are substantive suggestions they have. We will be happy to look at those. This is basically what I intend to file as a formal bill this next Thursday. I hope I will have a number of my colleagues on both sides of the floor join with me.”