Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2026

This bill would amend the Toxic Substances Control Act to ban making, processing, using, or selling commercial asbestos, or products containing it, starting on the day the law is enacted. Existing chlor-alkali plants could keep using asbestos diaphragms until May 25, 2032, or until May 25, 2036 for certain owners who convert facilities, while following exposure-control rules. Asbestos sheet gaskets would follow the phase-out dates already set in federal regulations. The President could grant a one-time national security exemption of up to 3 years, with one extension, and would generally have to publish applications and exemptions in the Federal Register. The ban would not apply to asbestos already installed in buildings, disposal, asbestos present only as an impurity, or metal ore mining.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Jeff Merkley Democrat sponsor
• 1 cosponsors