# 119-s-5235: Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2026

119-s-5235, Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-10).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5235
- As of: 2026-09-10
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-5235
- Congress: 119
- Title: Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2026
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-08-04
- Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (D-OR)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Environmental Protection
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-10

## Summary

**Nationwide ban on commercial asbestos** that stops making, processing, using, or selling commercial asbestos and products that contain it, while carving out narrowly defined, time-limited exceptions for specific industries and uses. - Owners and occupants: Materials and products containing asbestos that were installed in buildings or equipment before enactment can remain in place, and distribution solely for disposal is allowed under existing disposal rules. - Chlor-alkali workers and facilities: Facilities operating on enactment date may keep using asbestos diaphragms under strict interim exposure controls until May 25, 2032, with a possible extension to May 25, 2036 if they meet ownership and conversion conditions. - Industry and security carve-outs: Sheet gaskets follow the compliance schedule in 40 C.F.R. Part 751 Subpart F as in effect on enactment. The extraction and processing of metal ores is not covered by the ban. The President may grant narrow national security exemptions for up to 3 years, extendable once for up to 3 years, with terms to limit exposure.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Sen. Curtis, John R. [R-UT] (R-UT), 2026-08-04T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Nationwide ban on commercial asbestos: mixed, high. This bill would ban making, using, processing, or selling "commercial asbestos" under TSCA on the date of enactment. It would exclude items installed before enactment and items distributed only for disposal. Chlor-alkali plants operating on enactment could use chrysotile diaphragms until May 25, 20…

## Related bills

- 119-s-5238: For Our Republic Act
- 119-s-5071: Children's Safe Welcome Act of 2026
- 119-s-5022: Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act
- 119-s-2838: Protecting Our Democracy Act
- 119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act
- 119-s-5433: Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act

## Sources
- [119-s-5235 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/5235)

## Related
- [119-s-5238: For Our Republic Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5238)
- [119-s-5071: Children's Safe Welcome Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5071)
- [119-s-5022: Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5022)
- [119-s-2838: Protecting Our Democracy Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2838)
- [119-s-2819: Head Start for America's Children Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-2819)
- [119-s-5433: Wildland Firefighter Health and Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5433)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5235 (as of 2026-09-10).