Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Bonamici
Introduced
Summary
A national ban on commercial asbestos. This bill would prohibit the manufacture, processing, use, and distribution in commerce of commercial asbestos and of mixtures or articles that contain it, while carving out narrow transition rules and national security exemptions.
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- Families, workers, communities: Would stop new production and sales of commercial asbestos, lowering future exposure risks. It preserves an exception for materials installed in buildings before enactment and allows transfers solely for disposal, and it treats asbestos present only as an impurity differently.
- Chlor-alkali industry: Owners or operators of chlor-alkali facilities operating at enactment could continue to use and hold asbestos fibers to make diaphragms and to use asbestos diaphragms in production until January 1, 2030. That transition period gives facilities time to adopt alternatives or retire asbestos equipment.
- Federal scope and national security: The ban is limited to chemical substances regulated under the Toxic Substances Control Act and does not change cosmetic rules. The President could grant exemptions for national security when no feasible alternative exists for up to 3 years with one 3-year extension, and exemption applications and grants must be published or provided to the relevant congressional committees within 30 days when needed.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
What counts as asbestos under this bill
If enacted, this would define “commercial asbestos” as certain asbestos minerals only when mined or processed for sale. A product or mixture would not count if asbestos is present only as a tiny impurity under EPA rules (40 CFR 720.3). Using an item installed before enactment would not be treated as distribution in commerce. Sending an item only for disposal, following the law, would also not count as distribution. These rules would apply only to chemical controls under the Toxic Substances Control Act. They would not change other asbestos rules, including for cosmetics.
Nationwide asbestos ban with narrow exceptions
If enacted, this would ban making, processing, using, or distributing in commerce (selling) commercial asbestos or items that contain it. The ban would start on the date of enactment. Chlor-alkali plants operating on that date could keep using asbestos diaphragms and fibers only to make those diaphragms until January 1, 2030. The President could grant a national-security exemption only when it is necessary and no feasible alternative exists. An exemption could last up to 3 years and be extended once for up to 3 more years, and must limit exposure as much as practicable. The President would publish applications within 30 days and publish any granted exemption and its terms within 30 days, unless that would harm national security; then the information would go to the House Energy and Commerce and Senate Environment and Public Works Committees. EPA would not be allowed to grant TSCA section 22 waivers for commercial asbestos.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Bonamici
OR • D
Cosponsors
Bacon
NE • R
Sponsored 9/16/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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