Any doubts about the priorities of US president George W Bush should exist no more. On January 7, 2004, Bush called upon the US Congress to curb asbestos litigation. These lawsuits, claiming compensation against damage by asbestos usage, harm the business of many companies and the country's economy, he said.
A draft bill, proposed by US Senate Judiciary Committee chairperson Arlen Specter, seeks out-of-court settlement of asbestos claims through a trust funded by asbestos defendant companies and insurers. About US $140 billion will be needed for this, an estimate says. But some companies believe the fund is too expensive.
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