As we enter the heart of summer, I am thrilled to share some exciting updates and milestones with you. Importantly, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) is celebrating our 20th Anniversary! This not only marks a momentous occasion for our grassroots organization, it’s also a time to reflect on two decades of relentless advocacy, groundbreaking research, and unwavering support for asbestos victims and their families. ADAO should not need to exist — asbestos should have been banned decades ago, when it was proved to cause deadly diseases. But we are proud of the work that ADAO has done in the past 20 years, and we are honored to uplift and celebrate our community and all the gains we’ve made.

Our 20th Anniversary Annual Asbestos Awareness and Prevention Conference, "Exploring the Intersection of Asbestos Prevention, Policy, and the Law," is set to be a highlight of our year. It will bring together experts, advocates, and survivors to unite knowledge and action for change. The conference will be held on September 14, 2024, at the Crystal City Marriott at Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC.

In addition to the conference, we are proud to announce that we will publish the 20th-anniversary edition of our "Share Your Story" book, featuring nearly 200 personal stories about how asbestos has impacted members of our ADAO family. This compilation is a testament to the strength and resilience of our community and serves as a powerful tool for advocacy and awareness. If you would like your story to be included, the deadline to submit via this form is August 1.

Mark your calendars for the 16th Simmons Hanly Conroy, LLP Miles for Meso race and fundraiser on Saturday, September 21 benefiting ADAO! Registration opens soon for the Fight Against Mesothelioma.

We are also gearing up for our 19th Congressional Staff Briefing in Washington, DC. This briefing will address legacy asbestos impacting schools, the latest EPA Part 1 and Part 2 rules and risk evaluations, and legislative efforts to protect public health. Briefings are an incredibly important part of our dual-track strategy of legislation and regulation, and we look forward to educating more members of Congress about how to better safeguard public health against the dangers of asbestos exposure.

ADAO also filed detailed comments on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Part 2 Draft Asbestos Risk Evaluation. As drafted, the EPA’s Part 2 Risk Evaluation does not reflect the urgency needed to address the pervasiveness of legacy asbestos in the United States. In response, our experts have contributed invaluable insight that the EPA can use to bolster their evaluation.

Likewise, we are commemorating the 8th anniversary of the Lautenberg Chemical Safety Act. Thanks to the efforts of many, we have made significant progress. However, ADAO remains steadfast in our commitment to making more legal and legislative change. We will reflect on the progress and challenges during the 2024 Environmental Law Institute (ELI) Eighth Annual Toxic Substances Control Act Conference. Our insights and ongoing efforts underscore the importance of continued vigilance and action in protecting public health.

Our work would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors and donors. A heartfelt thank you to our 2024 Platinum Sponsor: Simmons Hanly Conroy, LLP; Gold Sponsors: The Gori Law Firm and Motley Rice LLC; and Silver Sponsor: Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen.

Let us come together to celebrate 20 years of progress, honor the memory of those we have lost, and continue our fight for a world free from asbestos.

In unity,

Linda Reinstein, President and Co-Founder, ADAO

ADAO encourages you to join our community and Share Your Story if you or a loved one has been impacted by asbestos. Read the stories of others who have been impacted. Together, we make change happen.