State legislatures throughout the country are pursuing efforts to restrict and roll back the rights of veterans who are sick and dying of asbestos-related diseases.

Vets and Their Battle Against Asbestos

A project of EWG Action Fund

 
shutterstock_523952317-2.jpg

The Hidden Enemy: Asbestos’ Long, Deadly Toll on U.S. Veterans

Many of the nation’s veterans who served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam and other conflicts were facing an enemy they could not see—a hidden threat that lurked in their own vessels, aircraft, vehicles and armaments: asbestos.

For most of the 20th century, the U.S. armed forces used asbestos extensively in the production and maintenance of ships, planes, tanks, trucks and other equipment.

Hundreds of thousands of sailors, soldiers, airmen and Marines were regularly and unknowingly exposed to the lethal material.

 

Section1.jpeg
 

State Anti-Veteran Legislation

State legislatures throughout the country are pursuing efforts to restrict and roll back the rights of veterans who are sick and dying of asbestos-related diseases.

 

 

Section2.jpeg

ACT NOW! Take a stand by signing our letter to state lawmakers telling them to oppose asbestos industry legislation that harms veterans and their families.

Click here to read the full petition letter

Click here to read letters by veteran service organizations that oppose this legislation

Sign on as a veteran, family member, or supporter to express your opposition to the so-called “Asbestos Trust Transparency” bills being introduced in states across the country at the urging of asbestos companies and their insurance companies. These bills unfairly target veterans and others suffering from asbestos disease with unnecessary hurdles to filing a lawsuit in court for injuries caused by no fault of their own. No state is safe, so sign up today. With your support, we will tell the legislature to honor all veterans and hard-working Americans.

 

Section3.jpeg
 

Vets Groups Oppose Asbestos Industry Agenda

More than 90 veterans’ organizations across 11 states have expressed their strong opposition to these proposals, which would deny justice to sick and dying vets. And 16 of the biggest national veterans’ groups, including the Military Officers Association of America, Vietnam Veterans of America and Military Order of the Purple Heart, successfully defeated similar legislation in Congress.

 

Federal FACT Act Opposition

Alabama

  • Sea Service Family Foundation

  • Association of the United States Navy

  • USS Sand Lance (SSN-660)

  • USS Sea Leopard SS-483 Association

  • USS Seattle AOE-3 Veterans Association

  • USS Shields (DD-596)

  • USS South Dakota (BB-57) Association

  • USS Sterett Association

  • USS Tarawa (CV-40/LHA-1) Veteran's Association

  • USS Terrebonne Parish LST-1156 Association

  • USS Thomas C. Hart DE/FF-1092 Veterans Association

  • USS Truckee Association

  • USS Ulysses S. Grant Alumni Association

  • USS Utah Association

Colorado

United Veterans Committee of Colorado, voting members including:

  • 101st Airborne Division

  • Air Force Association (AFA)

  • Air Force Sergeants (AFSA)

  • American Ex-POWs

  • American GI Forum

  • Association of US Army (AUSA)

  • Associated Veterans of CO (AVC)

  • Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Association

  • Combat Vets Motorcycle Association (CVMA)

  • Disabled American Veterans (DAV)

  • E9ers Association

  • Fleet Reserve Association

  • Jewish War Veterans

  • Korean War Veterans

  • Marine Corps League Department of Colorado

  • Military Order of Purple Heart (MOPH)

  • Military Officers Association of America

  • Nat. Assoc. for Uniformed Services (NAUS)

  • National Guard Association of Colorado

  • Education Foundation Colorado National Guard

  • National Sojourners (Denver-Fitzsimons Chapter)

  • Navy League

  • PVA - Mountain States

  • Special Forces Assoc.

  • The Retired Enlisted Assoc.(TREA)

  • Veteran Widows(ers) International Network

  • Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)

  • Women Marines Association CO 1

  • Women Marines Association

  • US Marine Memorial Golden, CO

  • Gold Star Wives of America, Inc

Iowa

Kansas

Michigan

Michigan Commanders Group, including:

  • American Legion, Michigan

  • American Veterans, Michigan

  • Catholic War Veterans, Michigan

  • Disable American Veterans, Michigan

  • Jewish War Veterans, Michigan

  • Marine Corps League, Michigan

  • Non-Commissioned Officers Association, Michigan

  • Military Order of the Purple Heart, Michigan

  • Paralyzed Veterans of America, Michigan

  • Vietnam Veterans of America, Michigan

  • Veterans of Foreign Wars, Michigan

Missouri

New Hampshire

New Hampshire State Veterans Advisory Committee, voting members include:

  • American Legion, New Hampshire  

  • Disabled American Veterans, New Hampshire

  • Veterans of Foreign Wars, New Hampshire

  • Vietnam Veterans of America, New Hampshire

  • Military Order of Purple Heart, New Hampshire

  • Reserve Officers Association, New Hampshire

  • Military Officers Association of America, New Hampshire

  • Air Force Association, New Hampshire

  • National Guard Association of New Hampshire

  • Rolling Thunder, New Hampshire

  • Marine Corps League, New Hampshire

  • Air Force Sergeants Association, New Hampshire

  • New Hampshire Army Retiree Council

  • Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, New Hampshire

  • Catholic War Veterans, New Hampshire

  • Korea War Veterans Association, New Hampshire

  • New Hampshire National Guard Enlisted Association 

  • Association of the US Army, New Hampshire

  • New Hampshire Veterans Association

New York

North & South Dakota

North Carolina

Pennsylvania

  • Pennsylvania War Veterans Council including:

    • American Ex-Prisoners of War, Pennsylvania

    • AMVETS, Department of Pennsylvania

    • Blinded Veterans Association of Pennsylvania

    • Catholic War Veterans of the US, Department of Pennsylvania

    • Disabled American Veterans, Pennsylvania

    • Forty et Eight (40/8), Pennsylvania

    • Jewish War Veterans, Pennsylvania

    • Keystone Paralyzed Veterans of America

    • Marine Corps League of Pennsylvania

    • Military Officers Association of America, Pennsylvania Council of Chapters

    • Military Order of the Grand Cooties of Pennsylvania

    • Military Order of the Purple Heart, Department of Pennsylvania

    • Navy Club USA

    • Pennsylvania State Association of County Directors

    • Veterans of Foreign Wars, Pennsylvania

    • Vietnam Veterans of America, Pennsylvania

Wisconsin

 

Section4.jpeg

Research and Veteran’s Stories

Find out more about the asbestos industries’ legacy of exposing veterans and other Americans to asbestos, and the ongoing efforts to deny ailing veterans the compensation they deserve.

Click here to see all stories.

Ala. Legislators Caught ‘Authoring’ Bills From Asbestos Industry Front Group

Two Alabama lawmakers attached their names to legislation, written by a shadowy asbestos industry front group, that would deny or delay justice for sick and dying asbestos victims, according to a sweeping investigation by a team of watchdog journalists.  

Tom Burkle’s Story

“I’m not an angry type of person, but it’s a horrible injustice that these companies kept making and using asbestos products when they knew it could kill people.”

Shandi Speedy’s Story

“I feel very optimistic,” she said, “but it’s always in the back of my head: When is it going to come back?”

Dickie Van Ness’ Story

“He showed me the X-rays and said it was pleural mesothelioma, and [said] there was no cure.”

 

Section5.jpeg