Vento testifies; asbestos bill reintroduced
The Senate Health Committee’s employment and workplace safety subcommittee held a hearing yesterday and the widow of Bruce Vento testified. Vento was a congressman who died several years ago from mesothelioma. Senator Patty Murray is continuing her crusade to ban asbestos, and reintroduced her bill to ban the material. Murray has tried to get this bill passed before, but it always died. This time, she has committee chair Barbara Boxer as a co-sponsor, and reportedly has the support of majority leader Harry Reid, so prospects look better.