By Staff
FAIR Act provides relief to veterans
Today, the Senate is considering a vital bill for veterans – the Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution (FAIR) Act.
As veterans return home injured from the front lines of Iraq and Afghanistan, we are reminded of our country's duty to provide for their care and needs.
Unfortunately, Congress's record on providing care for veterans is blemished by a failure to compensate older veterans – many who served in WW2 – for their exposure to asbestos while serving in the military. This harmful material is known for causing debilitating and sometimes fatal diseases.
The FAIR Act would remedy this blight and provide relief for these sick veterans by establishing a privately funded trust for all asbestos victims. Because veterans are unable to sue the federal government (which was their employer at the time of the exposure) this would mark the first time veterans would be able to easily receive compensation. The FAIR Act would also put an end to the broken asbestos litigation system.
I ask both Senator Jeff Sessions and Richard Shelby to vote for the FAIR Act and provide relief to veterans suffering from asbestos-related diseases.
Jimmy Manley
Past State Commander
Alabama Department of the Veterans of Foreign Wars
Huntsville, AL