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AFT Resolution

ASBESTOS

WHEREAS, asbestos is considered to be one of the most toxic substances in the environment and is a known human carcinogen that also causes other lung diseases; and

WHEREAS, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that 15 million school children and 1.5 million school personnel are at risk in 31,000 school buildings; and

WHEREAS, there are no federal regulations establishing uniform standards for determining when asbestos is hazardous and no requirement for the abatement of hazardous asbestos; and

WHEREAS, comprehensive legislation, entitled the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1986, is pending in Congress and, if enacted, would mandate the EPA to promulgate regulations establishing uniform standards for inspection, assessment of hazards and abatement of hazardous asbestos:

RESOLVED, that the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO, urge Congress to swiftly enact the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1986 to rid our schools of the risks of hazardous asbestos and to minimize the danger to the health and well-being of millions of students; and

RESOLVED, that the AFT urge Congress to fully fund the Asbestos Schools Hazard Abatement Act, enacted in 1984, which provides loans and grants to elementary and secondary schools for the purpose of eliminating the terrible health hazards caused by asbestos.

 

(1986)

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