119th (2025–2027)
S. 5235
The Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2026 would prohibit the manufacture, processing, use, and distribution of commercial asbestos and products containing it, effective immediately upon enactment. The ban applies to eight types of asbestos minerals commonly used in industrial applications and affects manufacturers, processors, and distributors across multiple industries. The legislation includes limited exceptions: chlor-alkali facilities (which use asbestos in chemical production) would have until May 2032 to phase out asbestos, with extensions until 2036 for companies that convert to safer alternatives; sheet gasket products would follow existing phase-out timelines; and the President could grant national security exemptions for up to three years, renewable once. Metal ore mining operations would be exempt from the restrictions, and the ban excludes asbestos that exists only as an impurity in products.