The US Senate bill for the $140 billion fund to pay asbestos victims may still be defeated after a test vote where 26 of the Senate’s 55 Republicans voted to abandon the bill.

The push to kill the trust fund bill and replace it with a measure creating tougher medical standards for plaintiffs seeking damages was spearheaded by Senator John Cornyn from Texas.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist says the Senate will vote within the next week on objections to the bill. If it’s not overcome, the proposed fund “disappears” and the Senate “will move on” to other legislation.