New York Sen. Charles E. Schumer has begun his attempt to block an asbestos lung disease measure that has been proposed in the Senate.

According to Schumer, if passed, the new asbestos lung disease legislation will further victimize veterans and others suffering from asbestos related cancers.

The Mesothelioma Center states that veterans have a higher risk of developing asbestos related cancers such as mesothelioma, due to the military’s past reliance on asbestos and construction materials that contained asbestos.

The U.S. military used asbestos products when building ships, automobiles, tanks, and aircrafts due to the material’s heat resistance and fire proofing qualities.

Asbestos Lung Disease Legislation

The asbestos lung disease measure was recently passed by the House and is now in the hands of the Senate. The legislation is known as the Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency Act, or FACT.

The act would require veterans who are sick and or dying of asbestos related cancers to disclose personal information in an online forum before they are able to receive compensation for their injuries from asbestos manufacturers.

The legislation requires veterans filing for money owed to them to disclose work histories, heath records, and portions of their social security numbers online. The legislation was proposed to stop fraud or abuse in the asbestos related claims system. But according to Schumer, there is very little evidence that veterans and others asbestos victims were double dipping into their asbestos funds.

The funds are held in asbestos trusts.  An asbestos trust gives victims the option of receiving funds without bringing a lawsuit.  The trusts are funded by corporations that were required to pay into the funds in order to provide compensation for victims of asbestos related cancers.

The companies that were required to pay into the fund knew or should have known asbestos was dangerous, according to those who set up the funds.  Senator Schumer believes that the new legislation will prevent veterans from filing for compensation from the asbestos trusts out of fear for identity theft and other serious privacy invasions.

Veterans Affected by Asbestos Related Cancer

According to the Military Order of the Purple Heart, United States veterans account for 30 percent of mesothelioma deaths but veterans only account for eight percent of the U.S. population.

The New York senator explained that the likely reason for these high statistics is the military’s heavy past reliance on asbestos products for construction projects, electrical wiring installation, and military housing. In some cases, veterans who served overseas may have been exposed to asbestos fibers when buildings were demolished that were built using asbestos.

Asbestos Lawsuits

Victims who have suffered from asbestos related cancers may be able to receive compensation from the companies that manufactured and distributed asbestos products.  Plaintiffs may have the option of filing an asbestos lawsuit.

Filing a lawsuit is a big decision that should be made on a case by case basis with the advice of a legal professional.  Asbestos lawsuits also help hold companies accountable for their actions and for putting the lives of thousands at risk of developing dangerous asbestos related cancers.