Democratic House Judiciary Committee members have asked that theGovernment Accountability Office assess possible problems with aproposed asbestos injury trust fund. The fund serves as the basisof legislation being drafted in the Senate to deal with asbestoslitigation.

In a letter to the comptroller general, the committee membersrequested that the GAO “study the efficacy, fairness, and solvencyof various trust funds and programs established to compensateindividuals for harm caused by mass torts and other exposure todangerous materials and products.” Specifically, the lettersuggested a review of similar programs created by Congress tocompensate victims, such as the Energy Employees OccupationalIllness Compensation Program Act and the Radiation CompensationAct, as well as trust funds facilitated by legislative acts orbankruptcy court orders, such as the Johns-Manville Personal InjurySettlement Trust.

In May, the advocacy group, USAction, released a study similarto that which the Democrats are seeking. USAction examined threeprograms, the Black Lung program, RECA, and EEOICPA. In each case,it found that beneficiaries faced delays in receiving payment,often because lawmakers had underestimated the expenses of startingand maintaining the programs, or made their decisions based oninaccurate information supplied by supporters of such programs.