H.R. 5373 — Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2025

This section prohibits, effective on the date of enactment of the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2025, the manufacture, processing, use, or distribution in commerce of commercial asbestos (i.e., asbestiform varieties of chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite, anthophyllite, tremolite, actinolite, richterite, and winchite extracted for commercial value) or any mixture or article containing it (excluding those where present solely as an impurity). (Thus, the prohibition applies only to chemical substances regulated under TSCA and does not affect other federal asbestos regulations, such as those for cosmetics.) The section provides exceptions for (1) chlor-alkali facilities operating on the date of enactment, which may use, hold, process, or incorporate commercial asbestos in diaphragms through January 1, 2030; and (2) presidential exemptions (initially up to three years, extendable once for three years) for national security purposes where no feasible alternative exists, subject to exposure-reduction conditions and Federal Register publication (or congressional notification if publication would harm national security). The section further bars EPA waivers under TSCA section 22 for commercial asbestos and redesignates existing subsection (j) as subsection (k).