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Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Reauthorization Act of 1990

Public Law 101-637 · S. 1893 · 101st Congress · began in the Senate

Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Nov 28, 1990 · Environmental Protection

Sponsor: Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)

Cosponsors (17): Sen. Harry Reid,

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Reauthorization Act of 1989 - Amends the Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Act of 1984 to require State Governors to maintain records on asbestos in school buildings. Deletes a requirement for the submission of asbestos abatement application materials by State Governors to the Secretary of Education. Requires State Governors, in determining the adequacy of financial resources available to a local educational agency for asbestos abatement, to consider the additional costs to such agency of meeting the needs of disadvantaged students. Removes a reporting requirement concerning actions taken by State Governors in accordance with State plans.

Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to approve applications for financial assistance no later than April 30 of each year. Prohibits the provision of such assistance to applicants who are not in compliance with title II of the Toxic Substances Control Act. Requires the proceeds from the repayment of Federal asbestos abatement loans and assistance recovery lawsuits to be deposited into the Asbestos Trust Fund. Removes a condition on the provision of financial assistance which requires the submission of an application within five years of the enactment of the Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Act of 1984. Prohibits the approval of assistance applications unless the local educational agency certifies that it is implementing an asbestos management plan and all abatement activities will be conducted by trained and accredited individuals in conformance with the Toxic Substances Control Act.

Removes certain requirements for the promulgation by the Administrator of standards for asbestos removal contractors and the protection of school employees trained to carry out abatement activities.

Requires the Administrator to report annually (until 1999) to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on the loan and grant program under the Asbestos School Hazard Abatement Act of 1984.

Authorizes appropriations for the asbestos abatement program for FY 1991 through 1995.

Revises provisions concerning the allocation of appropriations. Permits up to five percent of appropriations to be reserved each fiscal year for the administration of asbestos abatement activities. Authorizes the Administrator to use up to five percent of such appropriations for grants to States for: (1) assisting local educational agencies in performing periodic reinspections and training activities; and (2) maintaining programs to accredit personnel performing asbestos inspections and response actions.

Makes conforming amendments to provisions of the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act of 1986 concerning the Asbestos Trust Fund.

Amends the Toxic Substances Control Act to direct the Administrator to distribute to all local educational agencies and State Governors information or an advisory to: (1) facilitate public understanding of the risks associated with in-place management of asbestos-containing building materials and removals; (2) promote the least burdensome response actions to protect human health, safety, and the environment; and (3) describe the circumstances in which asbestos removal is necessary to protect human health.

Makes accreditation requirements currently applicable to contractors working with asbestos in schools applicable to contractors working with asbestos in public or commercial buildings. Requires the Administrator to revise the model contractor accreditation plan under the Toxic Substances Control Act to increase the minimum number of hours of training required for asbestos abatement workers and to make other changes, as necessary. Prescribes civil penalties for contractors who perform specified asbestos abatement actions without accreditation. Authorizes the Administrator to award asbestos training program grants to nonprofit organizations that demonstrate experience in operating asbestos training and education programs for workers involved in asbestos-related activities. Authorizes appropriations.

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Data notes

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 17 actions.

  1. Nov 28, 1990Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 101-637.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Nov 19, 1990PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Oct 26, 1990FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  5. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.
  6. FloorFloor · On ordering a second Agreed to without objection.
  7. FloorFloor · Mr. Whittaker demanded a second on the motion to suspend the rules.
  8. FloorFloor · Mr. Thomas A. Luken moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
  9. Oct 15, 1990FloorFloor · Passed Senate with amendments by Voice Vote.
  10. FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
  11. Jun 28, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
  12. Jun 12, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
  13. Jun 7, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Toxic Substances, Research and Development Subcommittee of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
  14. CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Toxic Substances, Research and Development Subcommittee of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
  15. Apr 26, 1990CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Toxic Substances, Research and Development Subcommittee of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
  16. Nov 17, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
  17. Nov 16, 1989IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.