Asbestos Cleared From U.S. Senate Chamber

(Notice how quickly our elected representatives act when the subject matter

affects them – like: their salaries; their pensions; their health…)

WASHINGTON - The Senate met as scheduled Tuesday, July 6, 2004, after workers removed what an aide said were low levels of asbestos, but the adjacent party cloak rooms and Senate press gallery were closed so tests and possible cleanups could be conducted.

The asbestos particles were apparently broken free when work was being conducted last week on intake ducts serving the chamber, said Robert Stevenson, spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn. The Senate resumed its business on Tuesday after being closed last week for its July 4 recess.

Officials received test results Sunday (July 4^th) showing "low levels" of asbestos in the Senate chamber, Stevenson said. The chamber was cleaned Sunday and Monday, he said. Officials did not realize until Tuesday that similar problems might exist in the cloak rooms and press gallery, he said. Reporters and press gallery staff were told to leave the gallery at about 1:00 p.m. EDT.

Stevenson said he did not know exactly what the exact asbestos readings in the Senate chamber were.

Each party has a cloak room in the back of the Senate chamber where lawmakers can meet, make telephone calls and relax.

The press gallery, which has work space for daily newspapers and wire services, is on the Capitol's third level. It shares some duct work with the chamber and has a door that opens directly into it so reporters can view the proceedings from a gallery perched above the floor.

Other galleries serving television, radio, periodical and photo journalists were not affected.

Asbestos was used commonly until the 1970’s in insulation and fireproofing material. When inhaled, its small fibers can cause cancer and other diseases

Posted: 07/07/04