December 13, 2005 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S13483
we will address the low-income energy in a nearby mill. The mill was so dusty mesothelioma at a rate 100 times the
assistance program and make sure that that workers often could not see their national average.
it is funded at a level that is necessary hands on their brooms. Dust was every- Because of the W.R. Grace mine and
in order to make sure people are held where. Mill workers swept dust out- the mill, hundreds of people in Libby
harmless, and low-income individuals side. They dumped it down the moun- died from asbestos-related diseases.
who need energy can afford it to heat tainside. I remember seeing employees And hundreds of current and former
their homes and do not have to make come out of the mine off the bus so area residents are now ill.
difficult choices. But we should all do caked with dust I wondered what in the The people in Libby will be plagued
it within the context of prioritizing the world is going on here. I never knew by asbestos for years to come. These
responsibilities of the Federal Govern- any working conditions to be so dusty. diseases can take 40 years to appear.
ment today and not pass our respon- The mill’s ventilation stack spewed Hundreds more will fall victim to these
sibilities today on to our children and the dust into the air. The ventilation diseases in the future.
our children’s children tomorrow by stack released 5,000 pounds of asbestos Now, the people of Libby must watch
deficit-financing this event. every day. When the wind blew from their neighbors struggle to tend their
So we are going to get these instruc- the east, a deadly white dust would gardens. They must watch their neigh-
tions. I guess there has been some cover the town. ´
bors struggle to walk to the cafe. They
unanimous consent agreement worked For decades, 24 hours a day, the dust must watch their neighbors struggle to
out. There are going to be about seven fell all over Libby. Dust fell on Libby’s provide a future for their children. And
proposals, instructions to conferees. I gardens. Dust fell on Libby’s homes. they must wonder if they, too, will fall
just hope that as we go through these Dust fell on Libby’s high school track. ill.
instructions people will have the intel- Dust fell on Libby’s playgrounds. Hundreds of people live in discom-
lectual integrity to ask the question, if Some of the vermiculite went down- fort. Hundreds of people live in pain.
they did not vote for the bill, if they town to a plant, right next to the base- ‘‘It took my mother 17 months to slow-
did not vote for the budget which was ball diamonds. The plant popped the ly suffocate,’’ said Gayla Benefield.
trying to control spending, and they vermiculite into Zonolite. Batches of After Gayla’s mother died in 1996,
did not vote for the deficit reduction Zonolite spilled all around the plant. Gayla and her sister sued W.R. Grace.
bill which is trying to control spend- Kids played in the Zonolite. People They brought only the second such
ing, why are they coming to the floor brought home bags of Zonolite to pour lawsuit to be decided by a jury in
and suddenly telling the conferees how into the attics. People put Zonolite in Libby. W.R. Grace had quietly settled
they should go about hitting their tar- their walls. People put Zonolite in dozens of other claims with agreements
gets which are part of the bill, which their gardens. People put vermiculite of secrecy.
they did not vote for, and they do not and ore in road beds. People used In 1999, the Environmental Protec-
support? Maybe we will hear somebody vermiculite and ore as aggregate in tion Agency started to investigate. The
preface their request for instructions their driveways. EPA found tremolite contamination in
with an explanation of that point. An article in the journal Environ- the air around the nursery. They found
I yield the floor. mental Health Perspectives would later it near the ball fields. They found it in-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- conclude: side homes.
ator from Montana. The EPA started cleaning up. The en-
Given the ubiquitous nature of vermiculite
contamination in Libby, along with histor-
tire community of Libby was des-
f
ical evidence of elevated asbestos concentra- ignated a Superfund site. Libby was
ASBESTOS tions in the air, it would be difficult to find listed on the EPA’s National Priorities
Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, Libby, participants who could be characterized as List.
MT, is a special place. Libby is a city unexposed. The EPA concluded:
of more than 2,600 people in Lincoln Every day, men from the valley went The occurrence of non-occupational asbes-
to the mountain to work in the mine tos-related disease that has been observed
County, in the northwest corner of
among Libby residents is extremely unusual,
Montana. It rests in a valley high in and the mill. Every day, these men
and has not been associated with asbestos
the Rocky Mountains, on the green came home, covered with the fine, mines elsewhere, suggesting either very high
Kootenai River between the Cabinet deadly white powder. and prolonged environmental exposures and/
and Percell Mountains. The powder got into their clothes. or increased toxicity of this form of
Libby is not a rich city. In 2000, the The powder got into their curtains. amphibole asbestos.
median family income in Libby was The powder covered their floors. The EPA has worked hard. The EPA
just under $30,000. That compares with The fine fibers of tremolite asbestos has shown a good response and solid
just over $40,000 in all of Montana, and are easy to inhale. Miners inhaled fi- clean-up work. And the EPA is com-
just over $50,000 in all of America. bers in the mine. Workers inhaled fi- mitted to finishing the job. I commend
Across the river, and 9 miles north- bers at the mill. Wives inhaled fibers them. I made many visits to Libby—
east of the town, rises a mountain that when they washed their husband’s many, many times. I talked with EPA
they call Zonolite Mountain. Until clothes. Children inhaled fibers when officials over the years, and I think
1990, the W.R. Grace Company used to they played on the carpet. they have done a pretty good job.
mine vermiculite there in the moun- And those fibers caused respiratory The EPA has identified more than a
tain. disease. Those fibers caused a serious thousand properties in Libby that still
Vermiculite is shiny mineral. Heat lung disease called asbestosis. And need cleaning up.
it, and it pops like popcorn. People those fibers caused a serious form of The agency has pushed back the
used to pop vermiculite to make build- cancer, mesothelioma, which plagues timeframe for cleaning up the town
ing insulation. They called the popped the chest and abdominal cavities. from 2004 to 2008. After having been in
vermiculite ‘‘Zonolite.’’ Tremolite asbestos causes unique dis- Libby for 3 years, the agency had com-
The layers of rock where people eases. These diseases are highly pro- pleted only 10 percent of the cleanup
found the vermiculite contained harm- gressive and deceptive. These diseases work needed to give the town a clean
ful asbestos. And the vermiculite out- often result in severe impairment or bill of health. The EPA must keep
side Libby is laced with a especially death, without the typical warning Libby a priority.
dangerous type of asbestos, called markers that show up on x-rays. With- In 1999, I was the first high-ranking
tremolite. out the usual medical signals, the peo- elected official to visit Libby. Since
Tremolite is the most toxic form of ple of Libby often went undiagnosed. the winter of 1999, I have gone to Libby
asbestos. Termolite has long fibers The Agency for Toxic Substances and 16 times. I have worked heard to get
that are barbed like fishhooks. These Disease Registry found that people funds to help with cleanup, health care,
fibers work their way into soft lung from Libby suffer from asbestos-re- and economic development.
tissue. These fibers do not come out. lated disease at a rate 40-to-60 times I have looked into the eyes of people
Until the mid-1970s, W.R. Grace proc- the national average. People from in Libby. I have seen mothers and fa-
essed the vermiculite mined in Libby Libby suffer from the asbestos cancer thers, sister and brothers, husbands
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S13484 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 13, 2005
and wives. I have listened to their trou- that it has faced. But they need our of Bahrain. That country is a very
bling stories. help. They deserve our help. strong ally of the United States in that
In Libby, I heard many concerns of The people in Libby are working hard region.
residents who cannot afford their to revitalize their economy and their This trade agreement is a clear win
health care. People are sick. Many are community. They are rightly proud of for our economy. It will create jobs.
getting sicker. They are dying up their resilience and their ability to Upon entry into force of this agree-
there. Health care is one of the most land on their feet. They deserve all the ment, Bahrain will immediately elimi-
pressing needs facing Libby. help that we can give them to make nate 100 percent of its duties on im-
In 2000, I helped to establish the Cen- their town whole again. ports of U.S. consumer and industrial
ter for Asbestos Related Diseases, or I urge my colleagues to support the products.
CARD. The CARD clinic has done a tre- Libby provisions in the asbestos bill. U.S. farmers will also benefit. On day
mendous job providing health care and Help us to right this terrible wrong. one of the agreement, Bahrain will
screening for Libby residents. CARD Help these hundreds of suffering people grant duty-free access on 98 percent of
needs additional Federal dollars to pro- to get health care and help save the life its tariff lines that apply to U.S. agri-
vide more and better care. of this town. cultural as well as food products. Du-
The healthcare costs of treating as- Mr. President, I yield the floor and ties with respect to that small remain-
bestos-related disease can be dev- suggest the absence of a quorum. ing 2 percent will be phased out over a
astating. Simple, routine procedures to The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. AL- period of 10 years.
help a person breathe more easily can EXANDER). The clerk will call the roll. This is solid market access for U.S.
cost more than $30,000. Those costs con- The bill clerk proceeded to call the farmers and U.S. manufacturers.
tinue to add up. They are crippling a roll. U.S. service providers will also gain
community that is struggling to get Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask from this agreement.
back on its feet. unanimous consent that the order for Bahrain will provide substantial mar-
The people of Libby face a health the quorum call be dispensed with. ket access across its entire service re-
care crisis. This crisis was caused by The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without gime. The service provisions of the
alarming rates of tremolite asbestos- objection, it is so ordered. agreement are based upon a ‘‘negative
related disease. Treating the sick peo- Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I do list’’ approach, which means that all
ple in Libby will cost hundreds of mil- want to, as I have the privilege of so service sectors are covered. In other
lions of dollars. It was caused by no often doing, express my thanks to my words, there will be trade in all service
fault of their own, but, I might add, by Democratic colleague, the ranking sectors unless they are specifically ex-
a company that knew it was damaging member of the Senate Finance Com- cluded as a result of the list.
and killing the people in that commu- mittee, for his cooperation particularly Bahrain is already a major center for
nity. on this United States-Bahrain Free service providers in the Middle East,
Libby is working to overcome years Trade Agreement that we were able to and the government recognizes that its
of asbestos exposure from the W.R. unanimously report out of our com- service sector can become even strong-
Grace mine. They have been through mittee. The reason I want to emphasize er through economic liberalization. Be-
enough. They did not ask for this lot. ‘‘unanimous’’ isn’t just to be com- cause of this agreement, as the region
Affording quality health care remains plimentary to Senator BAUCUS but also develops, there is going to be very en-
one of the biggest hurdles for the town to the people of this country who think hanced opportunities for U.S. export-
to move forward. that everything done in this Congress ers.
That is why I fought to make sure is always so partisan, that Republicans While it is important to note how the
that asbestos bills working through the and Democrats never get along, that United States-Bahrain Free Trade
Senate addressed the needs of the peo- we never talk to each other, that we Agreement will benefit the economy of
ple of Libby. When, in May of this year, never agree on anything. I can see why the United States in the aggregate, it
the Judiciary Committee voted to re- they have that impression because that is even more important to point out
port S. 852, the Fairness in Asbestos In- is the impression the news media of how it will benefit individual U.S. com-
jury Resolution Act, the committee in- America gives about the Congress of panies and their workers.
cluded appropriate language. the United States. But as practical For me, I didn’t have to look very far
The good people of Libby need our matter, nothing gets done in the Sen- to find Iowa workers and Iowa compa-
help. They are dying up there. They ate that isn’t somewhat bipartisan, and nies that benefit from this agreement.
cannot afford health care. I am dedi- particularly there is quite a tradition For example, the HNI Corporation—
cated to getting them the healthcare of bipartisanship in our Senate Com- it used to be referred to as the HON
treatment that they need and deserve. mittee on Finance. Corporation—the Fortune 500 company
I made a commitment to the people of This recent bill that is before us, the in my State, this company in
Libby and I intend to work together United States-Bahrain Free Trade Muscatine, IA, looks forward to the im-
with my colleagues to see that com- Agreement, is the latest representation plementation of this trade agreement.
mitment honored. of that bipartisan cooperation. HNI is the second largest manufacturer
Asbestos disease has devastated I thank Senator BAUCUS very much. of office furniture in North America. It
many communities across the country I give strong support to the bill S. is specifically targeting the Bahraini
But tremolite asbestos hit Libby hard- 2027; that is, the United States-Bahrain market for increased sales. So HNI em-
est of all. Libby is unique. The type of Free Trade Agreement Implementation ployees in Iowa as well as other States
asbestos at Libby is unique. The dura- Act. will benefit from Senate passage of the
tion of exposure at Libby is unique. This legislation is not only good for agreement.
The manner in which asbestos disease our U.S. economy, but it is also going Workers at the Lennox residential
manifests itself in Libby is unique. And to promote free trade, which is an eco- heating and cooling products factory in
the community-wide exposure in Libby nomic issue as it creates jobs, but it Marshalltown, IA, also stand to gain
was unique. That is why the tailored also promotes democracy, and it pro- from the agreement. Lennox has a
solution that the Judiciary Committee motes economic stability. strong interest in increasing its sales
has proposed makes sense. In regard to economic stability, the in Bahrain. Like HNI, Lennox has a
I want my colleagues to know that I reason I emphasize that is because the presence in many States, so its em-
will fight to defend the Libby provi- Middle East is seen as an area of the ployees not only in Iowa but through-
sions in the asbestos bill. Libby is ex- world that is not very stable. I think out the country will benefit from the
tremely important to me. If the Con- that enhancing trade with those coun- implementation of this agreement.
gress takes out the Libby provisions tries, large or small, is going to bring Smaller businesses throughout the
from the bill, they will lose my vote. great economic stability which in turn United States also stand to benefit
People in Libby are dying from ought to bring some political stability. from this trade agreement. One such
tremolite asbestos exposure. The town On top of all this, it is going to ce- company is Midamar Corporation lo-
has risen mightily to the challenges ment our ties with this small kingdom cated in Cedar Rapids. The Midamar
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December 13, 2005 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S13485
Corporation supplies halal food and and to enhance prospects for their chil- This is the first FTA to come before
food service equipment to restaurants, dren’s future throughout the Middle us since the very contentious Central
hotels, and distributors throughout the East. American Free Trade agreement.
world. This company was started in Finally, I urge my colleagues to sup- The overwhelming support I expect
1972 by Cedar Rapids native Bill port this bill before the Senate imple- the Bahrain agreement to secure is a
Aossey. When Bill returned to Iowa menting the United States-Bahrain testament to what can be achieved
after serving in the Peace Corps and Free Trade Agreement. when the administration and the Con-
traveling throughout the Middle East, Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, today gress work together to address con-
he came up with the idea of starting a we begin debate on the free trade cerns.
company dedicated to exporting Iowa agreement between the United States The Bahrain FTA shows that when
products. Now, 33 years later, Bill has a and Bahrain. This is an agreement that the administration keeps an open dia-
lot to show for this hard work. He em- strengthens our ties with a stalwart logue with Congress, we can find com-
ploys 30 Iowans and the Midamar Cor- ally in a troubled part of the world. It mon ground and achieve our common
poration is very much a clear success. is an agreement with a leading re- goals. I hope that we can continue to
I visited the Midamar facility last former in the Middle East, and with build upon the success of this FTA in
August and I can report Bill Aossey the most open economy in the Arab helping to heal the wounds of previous
and his employees are very enthusi- world. And it is an agreement worthy battles.
astic about this prospect of a trade of our support. I think we have before us a model for
agreement with Bahrain being imple- On the first day of enactment of the open dialogue, and for congressional
mented so they can even do more busi- U.S.-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement, support for trade liberalization.
ness in the Middle East. 100 percent of trade in manufactured I hope that we can take this model
Aside from the immediate benefits to goods will be duty free, opening up and apply it to much larger trading
United States exporters to Bahrain, markets for U.S. exports of motor vehi- partners and even bolder agreements.
this agreement’s impact will extend be- cles and parts, medical equipment, re- Agreements that will open bigger mar-
yond Bahrain. The United States is frigeration equipment, et cetera. Agri- kets, realize greater opportunities, and
promoting trade liberalization and eco- cultural exports are also expected to make our industries even more com-
nomic growth in other countries in the rise, and I hope Montana beef is among petitive.
Middle East and this agreement will them. Mr. President, I am pleased to sup-
serve as the template for other trade port the U.S.-Bahrain free trade agree-
The services chapter is the most ro-
agreements being negotiated in the re- ment. I urge my colleagues to pledge
bust of any agreement the United
gion. The solid gains for U.S. farmers, their support as well.
States has negotiated. Bahrain has
workers, manufacturers, and service f
promised American companies doing
providers found in this agreement may
business in the kingdom a regime free BUDGET RECONCILIATION
be replicated in other free trade agree-
of barriers, modern in its regulation, Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I
ments of their region.
This has already happened with the and respectful of intellectual property also take this opportunity to speak on
country of Oman. The United States rights. a motion to instruct conferees on the
recently concluded a free trade agree- For Bahrain, this agreement means Byrd amendment.
ment with Oman that was based large- greater integration into the world Yesterday, a Senator sent a letter to
ly upon our agreement with Bahrain so economy, a better environment for its the majority leader saying he would
the benefits to HNI Corporation, Len- workers, and a pioneering role in the oppose the reconciliation bill if we
nox, and Midamar that I have identi- Arab world. For the Middle East as a used repeal of the Continued Dumping
fied will be multiplied as other Arab region, I hope this agreement is a firm- and Subsidy Offset Act to achieve bil-
countries adopt free trade agreements ly planted seed that will grow pros- lions in budget savings. While dis-
with the United States that are based perity, openness, and stability. appointed, I was not surprised. In fact,
largely upon the Bahrain agreement. A strong agreement such as this one I say, join the club.
This is all part of a broader goal and does not automatically happen. It Already, one Senator told me he
that was expressed in May 2000 by takes hard work. It takes perseverance, would oppose reconciliation unless spe-
President Bush proposing a plan of followthrough. It takes vision. Fortu- cific provisions on specialty hospitals
graduated steps for Middle Eastern na- nately, the United States and Bahraini were not included. Several other Sen-
tions to increase trade and investment officials have these qualities in spades. ators threatened to vote against the
with the United States and others in I applaud their hard work. Ambassador reconciliation bill unless the MLLC
the world economy, culminating with Belooshi—who, I might add, is observ- Program was not extended. Another
the establishment of the Middle East ing these proceedings close by, very Senator told me he will vote no if we
Free Trade Agreement by the year 2013. close, I might add—of the Kingdom of save money by trimming waste from
The importance of this vision of Presi- Bahrain typifies the courageous action the Medicaid Program. A group of
dent Bush was brought home on July and progressive thinking the Bahrainis southern Senators said they would vote
22, 2004, when the report of the 9/11 have shown through the FTA process, no on the reconciliation bill if the
Commission was released. That report and we should applaud him for it. He Grassley provision on payment limits
contains as one of its key recommenda- has done a super job. in the farm program became a part of
tions that ‘‘comprehensive United I also applaud Ambassador Rob the bill.
States strategy to counterterrorism Portman and his predecessor, Bob So, no savings from the CDSOA re-
should include economic policies that Zoellick. Ambassador Zoellick nego- peal; no savings from the MLLC Pro-
encourage development, more open so- tiated a strong agreement, and Ambas- gram; no savings from Medicaid; no
cieties and opportunities for people sador Portman saw it through. Ambas- savings from payment limits. With ev-
who improve the lives of their families sador Portman listened to Senators’ in- eryone threatening to vote ‘‘no’’ there
and to enhance the prospect of their terests in monitoring Bahrain’s end to will be no savings in any Federal pro-
children’s future.’’ its boycott of Israel, and together we gram, ever.
Our trade agreement with Bahrain is worked out a solution. He has been Everyone says they are for balanced
an important achievement in that area equally energetic and flexible in work- budgets as long as it is someone else
and joins previously concluded bilat- ing with my colleagues in the House whose budget is cut to get the job
eral trade agreements between the Ways and Means Committee to allevi- done—not their pet issue. We need to
United States and Israel, Jordan, and ate their concerns, especially on labor. ask ourselves whether we want to trim
Morocco. The agreement with Bahrain I also applaud the very capable and the Federal budget or not. If not, what
is an important part of a broader effort energetic staff of the USTR. They are does the Republican Party stand for?
to encourage development, more open dedicated public servants, putting in The most egregious threat has to be
societies, and opportunities for people long hours and endless effort into their over budget savings from the repeal of
to improve the lives of their families work. They do a super job. the Continued Dumping and Subsidy
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