Bill Pending in Congress Would Wipe Out Claims Against Respirator Companies

WASHINGTON, D.C. - A bill has been introduced in Congress that would extinguish all product liability claims against respirator manufacturers that haven't yet proceeded to trial.

The measure, dubbed the Respirator Access Assurance Act of 2005, was introduced May 12 by Chief Sponsor Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) in an effort to protect American workers by ensuring the continued availability of respiratory protection equipment, which according to the bill, may one day no longer be available as a result of lawsuits against companies that manufacture the devices.

'Manufacturers of respirators may cease making such products, in principal part because of the …