Baucus praises Senate for passing bill banning asbestos use

Montana's senior U.S. Sen. Max Baucus praised the Senate for passing legislation that would prohibit asbestos from being used in products once and for all.

Baucus is a co-sponsor of the 'Ban Asbestos In America Act,' which passed the U.S. Senate unanimously late Thursday.

"Asbestos has wrought havoc in Montana and across the country," Baucus said. "Getting rid of asbestos and stopping the devastation it causes is a very personal fight for me. I'm proud to help pass the legislation that will end the use of asbestos once and for all."

Libby has been devastated by asbestos. W.R. Grace owned and operated a vermiculite mine in Libby until 1990. Since the mine closed, hundreds of Libby residents have gotten sick and have died from exposure to the asbestos. People in Libby suffer from asbestos-related health problems 40 to 60 times the national average, and that they suffer from mesothelioma, a dangerous form of cancer caused from asbestos exposure, 100 times the national average.

In 1999, news reports first brought the tragedy in Libby to light. Since that time Baucus has helped secure millions of federal dollars for cleanup, health care, and economic development. He was the first high-ranking elected official to visit Libby in 1999 and has visited a total of 21 times.Libby was declared a national superfund site in 2002."I don't want folks in other parts of the country to go through what the folks of Libby have - it's awful and never should happen again," Baucus said. "This legislation will help prevent asbestos tragedies from happening in the future. It's a good, common-sense bill."Baucus is a senior member and former chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works committee, which has jurisdiction over the EPA. Baucus has been a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works since 1979. Baucus said he hopes to see similar legislation pass the House.