Guest Column: Senator updates progress on Libby-related issues
Libby is one of the most beautiful places in our country. The city of eagles is a town where traditions and good old-fashioned Montana values are passed down through generations. It’s a town with a history reaching back to the very dawn of Montana and a bright future stretching out under the Big Sky as far as the eye can see.
Long before words like vermiculite or amphibole or mesothelioma began to appear in the newspaper or on people’s medical charts, the folks of Libby had already proven themselves as tough, dedicated strong-willed Montanans.
The resilient spirit of the folks here remains as strong as ever.
Dollars for Asa Wood Elementary
The 2009 appropriations bill contains more than a half-million dollars for Libby. These dollars are about helping residents move past the asbestos contamination and continue to build their community.
The Libby School District will receive $381,000 to spend on necessities, such as books and teacher salaries, so they can save up to build a new elementary school to replace Asa Wood.
I know the school district needs even more funding to build a new school. I’ll do all I can to bring every dollar possible to this project.
That means fighting for more appropriations and scouring the Jobs Bill, which just became law, for any school construction dollars to get this job done. Libby’s children deserve to learn in a safe, healthy environment.
A New Day at EPA
I’ve made it clear to the new EPA administrator, Lisa Jackson, that a public health emergency must be declared in Libby. During her confirmation hearing, she promised she would accompany me on a tour of Libby, as well as meet with EPA field staff and residents.
Most importantly, Ms. Jackson committed to reviewing Libby’s documents and revisiting the decision not to declare a public health emergency in Libby. She will get back to me by the end of April.
I believe she is a person of integrity and you can bet I’m going to hold her to all of those commitments. I’m looking forward to showing Ms. Jackson around town. I plan to buy her a cup of coffee at the Libby Café and introduce her to the strong, hard-working folks who call Libby home.
Honoring a Hometown Hero
It was during one of my visits to Libby when we first learned the extent of the contamination, that I first met Les Skramsted. A picture of Les, singing and strumming his guitar, sits on my desk in Washington. Les was more than a tireless activist and voice of Libby, he was a musician, a father and husband and he was my friend.
Les wanted justice for Libby, not just for himself, but for his neighbors and for future generations. Libby is getting its day in court, and I’m watching this trial very carefully.
Dollars for CARD
The bill also contains $190,000 for the Center for Asbestos Related Disease. CARD provides care for 2,600 patients made sick by Libby asbestos as well as conducts research and works with governmental agencies in an effort to find effective treatments for asbestos-related diseases.
The research and care the CARD provides is invaluable – and while we all pray for the day when CARD is no longer needed – I’m committed to making sure it has the funding to keep its doors open as long as necessary.
Asbestos Awareness Week
For the third year in a row, I’ve introduced a resolution to Congress, declaring the first week in April Asbestos Awareness Week. This week will help bring attention to the issues facing the city of eagles. It’s one way to ensure asbestos-related diseases get the research funding and attention it deserves.
The folks in Libby know better than anyone the effects of asbestos. With this resolution I’m making sure Libby’s story is told.
The next chapter
Of course, there is much more to Libby’s story. This town has a long and proud history and a promising future. The fight to turn the page on asbestos, to begin the next chapter in Libby’s history, is a fight we will win.
Together we will weather this economic downturn, we will clean up Libby and we will move forward.
(Max Baucus is Montana’s senior U.S. senator. He is chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. He can be reached at 800-332-6106).