Leahy-Hatch Medical Criteria Addressed Asbestos-Related Injuries

During the hearing “Asbestos: Mixed Dust and FELA Issues” February 2, 2005, Senator Patrick Leahy explained that the Leahy-Hatch medical criteria, adopted unanimously by the Committee in the last Congress and agreed to by all the stakeholders, addressed only asbestos-related injuries.

The purpose of this legislation, he said, has always been to address compensation for asbestos victims -- not to prevent compensation for injuries caused by other materials.

He pointed out that victims of diseases from airborne substances other than asbestos will not be able to qualify for compensation from the trust fund under our bipartisan and consensus medical standards.