Asbestos Victims Organization Requests Meeting with President Bush.

WASHINGTON -- The Families of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) Says Fair and Balanced Legislation Must Include Voice of the Victims

The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) today announced that it has requested a meeting with President George W. Bush to discuss the impact asbestos legislation would have on victims and family members of victims of asbestos related diseases.

In a letter addressed to President Bush today, ADAO stated:

"We, or our family members, have become sick or died as a result of exposure to asbestos - as do 10,000 Americans every year. Mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos, killed (singer Warren Zevon), as well as actor Steve McQueen and Representative Bruce Vento of Minnesota.

The families of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) respectfully request a meeting with you on January 7, 2005, either before or after you meet with business and industry on this critical topic. We strongly encourage you to hear from us before passing judgment. What we need is a fair and balanced bill that takes into account the voice of the victims and the need to increase funding for research, education and prevention. However, the most crucial need is to ensure that individuals, high-risk industries and the medical community have the resources they need to reduce exposure, ensure early diagnoses and improve treatment options.

The asbestos industry must be held accountable for its actions. In fact, asbestos may be the largest and deadliest public health disaster in the history of the United States. It is unacceptable for meetings to be held with industry, the companies and all of the corporate interests who would benefit from the asbestos industry bailout bill, and not those who suffer as a result of asbestos exposure.

We cannot compete with the kinds of financial contributions from special interest lobby groups, nor would we. The asbestos industry spent millions lobbying last year; that money could have gone a long ways towards developing an early warning test and moved us closer to a cure. But we are citizens who have lost loved ones to this deadly poison, and we need your help.

We look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your time and consideration."

About Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization

Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) was founded by asbestos victims and their families. ADAO seeks to give asbestos victims and concerned citizens a united voice to help ensure their rights are fairly represented and protected, while raising public awareness about the dangers of asbestos exposure and often deadly asbestos related diseases. ADAO is an independent organization funded through voluntary contributions and staffed by volunteers.