404, Subpt. P, App.1, Part (A) section 3.00 (E) and 
(F), and the interpretative standards set forth in the 
Official Statement of the American Thoracic Society 
titled ‘‘Lung Function Testing: Selection of Ref-
erence Values and Interpretative Strategies’’ as pub-
lished in the American Review of Respiratory Dis-
eases 1991: 144: 1202-1218. No adjustments with 
respect to the interpretation of pulmonary function 
testing shall be made on the basis of race. 
(e) NO PRESUMPTION AT TRIAL.—Submission of a 
medical report and diagnosis meeting the requirements of 
this section shall not result in any presumption at trial 
that the exposed person is impaired by an asbestos-related 
condition, and evidence that such a report was submitted 
shall not be admissible at trial. 
(f) APPLICABILITY.—This section shall govern the 
substantive rule of decision, regardless of forum. 
SEC. 5. CONSOLIDATION. 
Unless all parties otherwise consent, a court may not 
consolidate for trial—
(1) asbestos claims relating to more than 20 
different exposed persons; and 
(2) a nonmalignant claim relating to one ex-
posed person with a cancer claim relating to another 
exposed person.
SEC. 6. VENUE. 
A civil action asserting a nonmalignant claim may 
only be brought in the State of plaintiff’s domicile or a 
State in which there occurred exposure to asbestos that 
is a substantial contributing factor to the physical impair-
ment on which the claim is based. This section does not 
affect venue for civil actions asserting a cancer claim, 
which shall be governed by otherwise applicable State or 
Federal law. 
SEC. 7. REMOVAL. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Any party in a civil action involv-
ing an asbestos claim may remove such action to a district 
court of the United States in accordance with chapter 89 
of title 28, United States Code. A civil action may be re-
moved to the district court of the United States in accord-
ance with this subsection by any defendant without the 
consent of all defendants. 
(b) REMAND.—The district court shall remand any 
civil action removed solely under subsection (a) if it finds 
that the plaintiffs substantially met the requirements of 
section 4. 
SEC. 8. LIMITATIONS; TWO-DISEASE RULE; GENERAL RE-
LEASES. 
(a) STATUTE
OF LIMITATIONS.—Notwithstanding 
any other provision of law, with respect to any nonmalig-
nant asbestos claim not barred as of the effective date of
this Act, the limitations period on an asbestos claim shall 
not commence as a result of a purported diagnosis or find-
ing of a nonmalignant condition related to asbestos that 
does not meet the substantive criteria in section 4. 
(b) TWO-DISEASE RULE.—An asbestos claim arising 
out of a nonmalignant condition shall be a distinct cause 
of action from an asbestos claim relating to the same ex-
posed person arising out of asbestos-related cancer. No 
damages shall be awarded for fear or risk of cancer in 
any civil action asserting only a nonmalignant asbestos 
claim. 
(c) GENERAL RELEASES FROM LIABILITY PROHIB-
ITED.—No settlement of a nonmalignant asbestos claim 
concluded after the effective date of this Act shall require, 
as a condition of settlement, release of any future claim 
for asbestos-related cancer. 
SEC. 9. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS. 
(a) CONSTRUCTION WITH OTHER LAWS.—This Act 
shall not be construed to affect the scope or operation of 
any workers’ compensation law or veterans’ benefit pro-
gram, to affect the exclusive remedy or subrogation provi-
sions of any such law, or to authorize any lawsuit which 
is barred by any such provision of law. 
(b) CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY.—The constitu-
tional authority for this Act is contained in Article I, sec-
tion 8, clause 3 of the Constitution of the United States 
and in Article III, section 1 of the Constitution of the 
United States. 
SEC. 10. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
This Act shall be effective on the date of the enact-
ment of this Act and shall apply to any civil action assert-
ing an asbestos claim in which trial has not commenced 
as of such date.
Æ