? The level of funding.

? What will happen if a trust fund which is supposed to resolve all asbestos-related claims runs out of money?

? How to compensate claimants whose injuries have multiple causes.

? How the insurance industry's share of the trust fund will be allocated among insurance companies.

The goal is to establish a trust fund, financed by contributions from defendants and insurers, to resolve asbestos-related claims out of court.

Gary Karr, a representative of the Washington-based American Insurance Association, said AIA remains hopeful that an agreement can be reached. Every time a deadline has been established, either by Sen. Frist or Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, work has been done and progress has been made, he said.

Mr. Karr noted, however, that there are still some significant bridges to cross.

Marliss Browder, federal affairs representative with the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies in Indianapolis, said NAMIC is cautiously optimistic that Sen. Frist has set a deadline. Without a deadline, she said, the process would continue to go on and on and on.

There are still issues that NAMIC is working with Senate staffers to resolve, Ms. Browder added.

Anne Sittmann, a representative of the Des Plaines, Ill.-based Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, added: "PCI appreciates the Majority Leader offering to bring a bill to the floor, if it can be done."