A recent press release from the Pacific Heart, Lung & Blood Institute publicized the group's opinion on current asbestos legislation.  According to the release, the Institute unanimously supports a complete ban on asbestos and any product which uses he material as a component.

While the Institute applauds the House Committee on Energy and Commerce's draft bill, it criticizes the slack exceptions outlined in the bill: "We support the committee print's ban on all asbestos containing products. We explicitly reject the 'less than one-percent' exemption, which
would allow the continued use of asbestos as long as this toxic mineral is less than one percent by product weight. Such an exemption would allow industry to include one pound of lethal asbestos in a 100-pound bag of insulation. This one-percent exemption would perpetuate the misery of the asbestos disease epidemic and is indefensible on public health policy grounds."

Additionally, the release outlines a plan for asbestos research funding and awareness programs.  The full release can be found here.

A new development in the Iron Range case of Minnesota has citizens concerned.  The governor of Minnesota has publicly stated that he does not support the bill which allots $4.9 million for asbestos research.  Governor Tim Pawlenty says he does not agree with the bill's source of funding.  He believes the money should come from Iron Range resources rather than the state's Worker's Compensation Fund.  Range representatives said they will proceed with their version of the bill.  The bill will be voted on in the House soon, and it is still moving through the Senate.