Merkley, Curtis Announce Bipartisan Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2026

Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and John Curtis (R-UT), respectively the Ranking Member and Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice, and Regulatory Oversight, teamed up to introduce bipartisan legislation that would finally end all commercial and industrial uses of asbestos.

The Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2026 protects public health by prohibiting the manufacture, processing, use, and distribution in commerce of all six recognized asbestos fibers, for which experts say there is no safe level of human exposure.

"American families and workers deserve to have a future free of exposure to asbestos-a known killer," said Merkley. "This deadly carcinogen has been banned in more than 50 countries, while the United States is playing catch-up on tackling this public health nightmare. Our bipartisan bill is necessary to phase out all dangerous asbestos fibers and provide stronger protections for consumers across the United States."

"For decades, we have known the dangers of commercial asbestos, yet it has continued to be used," said Curtis. "This bipartisan legislation finally brings certainty by ending the manufacture and use of commercial asbestos while providing a responsible, time-limited transition for the limited uses that remain."

The bipartisan Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2026 would:

• Ban commercial asbestos by prohibiting its manufacture, processing, use, and distribution in commerce.
• Cover all six historically regulated asbestos fibers.
• Establish durable public health protections and codify federal transition requirements.

The bill is supported by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, American Public Health Association (APHA), Center for Environmental Health (CEH), Collegium Ramazzini, Environmental Information Association (EIA), Environmental Working Group (EWG), and Federal Fire Fighters Joint Council, International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).

"Today's bipartisan Senate reintroduction of the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act marks a historic breakthrough in the fight to end the use of asbestos in the United States. On behalf of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, we are deeply grateful to Senator Jeff Merkley for his steadfast leadership on this issue and to Senator John Curtis for becoming the first Senate Republican to co-sponsor ARBAN. More than 40,000 Americans die each year from preventable asbestos-caused diseases and Congress has a responsibility to act. Together, Senators Merkley and Curtis are doing just that by advancing the comprehensive, durable solution needed to eliminate all six recognized asbestos fibers and Libby Amphibole asbestos from commerce. Their bill will protect workers, first responders, consumers, children, and communities across the nation from asbestos and save lives for decades to come," said Linda Reinstein, President and Cofounder of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO).

"There is overwhelming consensus in the scientific community that there is no safe level of asbestos exposure. APHA continues to support legislation like the Senate's Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now (ARBAN) Act to protect the public's health by eliminating all asbestos imports and use," said Georges C. Benjamin, MD, Chief Executive Officer, American Public Health Association.

"CEH applauds Senators Merkley and Curtis for reintroducing the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act, a standalone, bipartisan bill that will ban asbestos in all of its forms in the United States. Banning asbestos, one of the most toxic substances that has caused so much harm, is long overdue," said Thomas R. Fox, Senior Legislative Counsel, Center for Environmental Health.

"The Collegium Ramazzini, an international scientific society, supports the Senate's Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2026 which calls for an immediate ban on all mining and the use of asbestos in all its forms in order to eliminate the continuing burden of disease and death. We urge the immediate passage of this legislation which will save countless lives in our country and globally," said Dr. Melissa McDiarmid, on behalf of the Fellows of the Collegium Ramazzini.

"On behalf of the Environmental Information Association (EIA), a non-profit membership organization of persons involved in the asbestos abatement industry, I write to express EIA's strong support for the Senate's Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now (ARBAN) Act of 2026. We greatly appreciate your continuing commitment to ban commercial asbestos that has continued for many years. With the passage of the ARBAN Act, the United States will finally join nearly 70 countries that have banned asbestos," said J. Brent Kynoch, Managing Director of the Environmental Information Association.

"EWG commends Senators Jeff Merkley and John Curtis for their introduction of the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now (ARBAN) Act to ban this deadly carcinogen. Asbestos-related diseases have claimed countless lives and continue to leave families grieving across the nation. By passing the bipartisan ARBAN Act, Congress can make it unmistakably clear that public health must come before industry profits. This legislation reflects the longstanding dedication of Linda Reinstein and the ADAO, whose tireless advocacy over more than two decades has helped keep the devastating human toll of asbestos in the public eye and sustained momentum for congressional action," said Ken Cook, President, Environmental Working Group (EWG).

"The Federal Fire Fighters Joint Council wholeheartedly endorses the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now (ARBAN) Act and its critical effort to ban the importation, commercial sale, and use of all asbestos fibers. Exposure to toxic asbestos during emergency response duties continues to cause devastating illnesses and deaths among dedicated federal fire fighters protecting federal facilities and the American public. Enacting a comprehensive ban is a vital and long-overdue step toward safeguarding the health and lives of our nation's valiant firefighters," said Michael Jackson, President of the Federal Fire Fighters Joint Council, International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).

Merkley has been a longtime advocate for banning asbestos. He previously chaired a hearing on his legislation to ban the manufacturing, processing, use, and distribution of commercial asbestos in the United States. Merkley also leads a bipartisan effort to mark National Asbestos Awareness Week in April, educating Americans about the dangers of asbestos exposure.

Full text of the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2026 can be found by clicking here.

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