Time is short

Given the advancing age of our surviving World War II veterans, time is short for these particular victims of asbestos-related illnesses. Veterans who've been diagnosed with deadly asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer find it almost impossible to get compensation for their exposure under the current system.

If veterans try to sue a company that once supplied the material to the government, they encounter a line at the courthouse that takes years to navigate - years that the sickest veterans frankly don't have. Today there are more than 500,000 asbestos cases in the courts and more piling up everyday. Many of these cases have been brought by lawyers on behalf of people who don't even have any symptoms of asbestos-related illnesses.

Finally, some on Capitol Hill are getting serious about fixing this legal crisis that's so harmful to veterans. The Judiciary Committee has begun work on the Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act, or the FAIR Act. This legislation would make sure that veterans suffering from asbestos-related illnesses finally get fair and certain compensation.

If Senators allow this opportunity to pass, we may never again get this close to a solution. More veterans will die of asbestos-related illness without getting compensation. We mustn't allow this to happen. As a veteran, I urge Senator Cornyn, a Member of the Judiciary Committee, to support this critical legislation for veterans.  And I urge both Texas Senators to vote for the FAIR Act when it comes to the Senate floor.

Buddi Harlan,

Past State Commander

Texas Department of

Veterans of Foreign Wars