Document yQLBNgQ9E58RZN5okgrNG1p6

h.e.a. corcurns -7- Occober 25, 1579 to their dependents. This suggested draft legislation included.friction materials manufacturers. Is other .words, .".friction materials, automotive" was Included with insulating and acoustical spray materials, asbestos textiles, asbestos cement sheets, etc. As -originally .worded/Af a,.. .... certain friction materials ..manufacturer-used 10.00C of 'asbestos in**_* its products In 1965 <-(15 years before the 1980 target date for the act), he would be assessed 53,250,000 in 1980. Perhaps sons of .the .reaction* . by friction material manufacturers to this industry draft -.filtered baek*_~l because subsequentto this, the Secretary was advised that."friction .' " 1 materials, automotive" manufacturers had been moved to a lesser classj'Ji which would have made the assessment 5325,000 for useage similar -to that above. The meobership and the Board of Directors at the June oeetins indicated, great displeasure with this "Asbestos Health Hazards Compensation Act."- The board of Directors asked the conaittee to review this and to come up with consents, suggestions and/or a plan for the Institute as regards an Asbestos health Hazards Compensation Act. The Secretary and some' com!ttee members had monitored this question since the 3une meeting ~; - and have been advised .that the Fenwick 3111 as drafted is dead.'*' There - is no movement and no Initiative, even within the asbestos producers --- group as regards the Fenwick Bill discussed earlier. ~ In monitoring this subject, the Secretary has "been advised that the only* action currently being considered concerns a draft bill by'Senator Hart of Colorado. Senator.Hart and his staff with input from asbestos producers are apparently drafting a bill regarding asbestos related disabilities using the States to administer the Compensation Act. It was consented that Senator llart is from Colorado, the new home of Johns-Hanvllle. The Hart .bill, if reported to a committee, would include a supplemental payment for asbestos disabling diseases to be added to the present workmen's compensation benefit. The responsible parties to be assessed would be essentially the asbestos industry and the Government. Hhen a claim is filed through the State, an employer could identify others whom they felt were responsible parties. For example, a friction materials manufacturer could claim that the asbestos producer was responsible for : not warning of the dlsabline characteristics of asbestos exnosure. Another major change, beyond the fact that the States would administer this act and there would be determination of responsible parties by the hearing officer, the compensation fund would derive from a 502 contribu tion by the Government and a 502 contribution by other responsible parties. This is a rough outline of what the asbestos producers industry had been advocating with Senator Hart's staff. The Secretary wrote his Congressman and was given some brief background on the Senator Hart draft, but it was suggested that he contact Senator Hart for more details. The Secretary wrote Senator Hart, but has received no response concerning a Federal Asbestos Health Hazards Compensation Act. The Secretary followed-up the day before the Committee -meeting with the Asbestos Information Association to find out if there has "been anything further as regards an asbestos compensation act. The Secretary was advised that there had been no further action that !Ir. Pigg was aware of. Based on the foregoing background and review, it was concluded that the objectionable Fenwick Bill was no longer under consideration.'