Specter says asbestos bill vote unlikely before August recess News
Specter says asbestos bill vote unlikely before August recess

[JURIST] US Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter [official website] said Wednesday that a bill he is co-sponsoring to end asbestos injury lawsuits is unlikely to receive a vote in the Senate before the August recess. The statement comes after Specter earlier in the month urged the bill to be brought forward [JURIST report] despite a tight schedule. The Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act of 2005 (FAIR) [PDF text], approved by Specter's committee [JURIST report] in May, would replace lawsuits with a $140 billion compensation fund. Many families of those affected by asbestos exposure oppose the bill [Copley report]. Reuters has more.