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HR 1737 108th Congress House

Asbestos Victims' Compensation Act of 2003

Official title: To provide for the fair and efficient judicial consideration of personal injury and wrongful death claims arising out of asbestos exposure, to ensure that indi… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To provide for the fair and efficient judicial consideration of personal injury and wrongful death claims arising out of asbestos exposure, to ensure that individuals who suffer harm, now or in the future, from illnesses caused by exposure to asbestos receive compensation for their injuries, and for other purposes.

Introduced: April 10, 2003 See on congress.gov
Law AsbestosBankruptcyCancerCivil actions and liability
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Class actions (Civil procedure)Court recordsDistrict courtsDrug abuseEnvironmental ProtectionEvidence (Law)Finance and Financial SectorGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernment paperworkHealthLabor and EmploymentLimitation of actionsLung cancerLung diseasesMedical recordsMedical testsOccupational health and safetyPersonnel recordsPhysical examinationsPhysiciansPretrial procedureRespiratory diseasesSmokingStandardsTortsWrongful deathX-rays
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This bill died when the 108th Congress ended
It never became law before the 108th Congress (2003–2004) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 10, 2003
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Apr 10, 2003
Introduced in House
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 Latest action April 10, 2003

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Asbestos Victims' Compensation Act of 2003 - Declares physical impairment of the asbestos-exposed person to be an essential element of an asbestos claim. States that cancer satisfies that requirement.

Requires civil actions involving an asbestos claim to include the filing of a doctor-signed narrative medical report and diagnosis which: (1) delineates an employment and exposure history; (2) delineates a medical and smoking history; (3) certifies that 15 years have elapsed from first exposure to diagnosis; (4) certifies a certain level of opacity or pleural thickening on a chest x-ray or pathological evidence of a certain grade of asbestosis; (5) certifies a certain level of asbestos-related pulmonary impairment; and (6) contains other reports and statements as required.

Sets forth required technical standards as well as rules governing consolidation, venue, removal, and the statute of limitations.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 4
All 4 Democratic 3
D
Larsen, Rick
Washington · Apr 10, 2003
 D
Larson, John B.
Connecticut · Apr 10, 2003
 D
Smith, Adam
Washington · Apr 10, 2003
STENHOLM, CHARLES
· Apr 10, 2003
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1737: Asbestos Victims' Compensation Act of 2003. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-1737/
MLA
"H.R. 1737: Asbestos Victims' Compensation Act of 2003." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-1737/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1737, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-1737/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1737: Asbestos Victims' Compensation Act of 2003](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-HR-1737/)
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