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The Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution (FAIR) Act (S.1125) has died in the Senate, according to the United Transportation Union.

The bill — which aimed to create a "fair and efficient system" to resolve workers' claims of bodily injury caused by asbestos exposure — was opposed by rail labor union officials, who believe the legislation would remove railroad workers' rights to sue employers for asbestos-related injuries under the Federal Employers' Liability Act (FELA).

Railroads already receive a legal break under FELA because they don't have to pay punitive damage awards common in other industries, union officials said.

"Once again, we have witnessed an anti-labor bias in Congress," said UTU National Legislative Director James Brunkenhoefer in a prepared statement. "The only way to snuff out that bias is to … use the power of our numbers at the ballot box in November to change the make-up of Congress."