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.

Rather than taking steps to ensure veterans are no longer exposed to asbestos, the asbestos industry and big insurance corporations are pushing legislation that would strip veterans and their families of the right to hold the industry accountable. The bills are being pushed by corporations that were responsible for manufacturing asbestos or for exposing workers to it, along with their insurers. The legislation places additional burdens on asbestos victims who wish to file claims against the asbestos industry.

Veterans and many veterans’ organizations have expressed strong opposition to these proposals.

The American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, which drafts legislation and shops it before conservative state lawmakers, is the group leading this effort. So far, this legislation has become law in 15 states and is awaiting action in nine other states.

The ALEC-drafted bills in each state are virtually identical and seek to do the following:

Force asbestos victims to disclose confidential settlement agreements.
Drastically alter procedural rules by keeping cases open for years after judgment for the sole purpose of reducing awards to victims.
Allow big corporations to delay trial repeatedly so that victims may die before their day in court. Patients with mesothelioma usually die within months after diagnosis.