Hi Thomas,
My name is
Susan Vento, and I am
writing to you about a cause very close to my heart. My husband,
Bruce, was a Democratic
member of the US House of Representatives until October 10th,
2000 when he died
of pleural mesothelioma––a rare disease caused by asbestos
exposure. Recently, asbestos companies are
using their
political influence to push a new bill in Congress, led by
the American
Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). It is called the “Furthering Asbestos Claim
Transparency (FACT) Act.”
In short, this bill would delay and, in some cases, deny justice
to people
suffering from asbestos-related diseases. The FACT Act marks
the beginning of a state-by-state strategy to dismantle the
rights of victims.
We must take action to protect these victims before it’s too
late, like it was
for my husband.
In
the name of so-called
“transparency,” the bill places burdensome reporting
requirements on victims
applying to the bankruptcy trusts. Yet, the companies who
knowingly caused the
asbestos exposure have no comparable requirements. The
legislation is a
one-sided and unfair effort designed to harm those who have
already been
injured. You
can find more information on the bill here. This
legislation is not an
effort to make
the legal system more responsive. Instead, it is merely the
latest attempt by companies and individuals like the Koch brothers to avoid
responsibility for
their wrongdoings.
Because
of your influence and experience in the political blogosphere, I
am asking for
your help. I am a spokesperson for the Asbestos Cancer Victims’ Rights Campaign. The
ACVRC is a
national campaign dedicated to protecting the rights and privacy
of cancer
victims and their families. I hope that you will join our fight
to defeat
this unfair legislation and the potential precedent it sets.
Here are a couple
simple steps you can take to make a difference:
1. Sign
the petition to
stop legislation that threatens cancer victims!
Go to www.CancerVictimsRights.org/take-action/sign-the-petition/ and
follow the
instructions to sign the petition at the bottom of the page.
2. Spread
the word!
Share your thoughts on the bill and our cause
with your blog
audience. Place a link to our petition on your blog to allow
your readers to
sign and showcase their public support––every signature matters!
Thank
you in advance for your time. Individuals and families affected
by cancer
already have enough on their plate. With your help, the ACVRC is
committed to
fighting legislation that further burdens them.
Best,
Susan
