Patrick Leahy: “this evening, Senators will finally have the opportunity to vote to consider legislation which has been publicly debated…”

“this evening, Senators will finally have the opportunity to vote to consider legislation which has been publicly debated and considered for several years. It is a bipartisan bill that is the product of lengthy and conscientious negotiation. We have held dozens of public hearings and committee markups. It has been an exemplary process. I see the distinguished Senator from Pennsylvania in the Chamber. He has arranged--I have lost count of the number of meetings where people from across the spectrum, political and otherwise, have had a chance to be heard--businesses, victims, labor, industry, everybody. It has been a great process. But with every day we delay consideration of this bill, victims are dying and more companies are going bankrupt. Both are tragedies for the families and victims, as well as for the workers and retirees and for the families who built these companies. The time has now come to pass this legislation. Victims have been waiting long enough for a comprehensive national solution. I hope all Senators will support the motion to proceed to this legislation. It has earned the support of many organizations that represent the victims of serious asbestos exposures. Asbestos disease has tragically weighed heavily on one group in particular--our Nation's war veterans. These brave veterans are unable to receive compensation under our current system, and they have asked Members of Congress--both parties--over and over again for help.…”