III 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 309 

Expressing support for the designation of October 2017 as ‘‘National Protect 

Your Hearing Month’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

OCTOBER 26, 2017 

Ms. WARREN (for herself and Ms. COLLINS) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 

and Pensions 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of October 2017 as 

‘‘National Protect Your Hearing Month’’. 

Whereas the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found that up to 24 percent of 

adults in the United States, 40,000,000 individuals, may 

have noise-induced hearing loss in 1 or both ears; 

Whereas individuals take part in activities every day that can 

contribute to increased exposure to harmful noise levels; 

Whereas potential sources of noise-induced hearing loss include— 

(1) portable music; 

(2) movie and game systems; 


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•SRES 309 IS 

(3) sports recreation activities, such as auto racing, 

hunting, and snowmobiling; 

(4) athletic events; 

(5) concerts; 

(6) yard work, such as mowing the lawn; and 

(7) hobbies, such as woodworking; 

Whereas workers in the fields of mining, manufacturing, and 

construction and individuals serving in the military go to 

work each day in damaging noise conditions and occupational hearing loss is among the most commonly recorded 

work-related injuries; 

Whereas living or working on a farm can also expose individuals to harmful levels of noise, including from farm machinery, other equipment used on farms, and animals; 

Whereas musicians of all ages, both amateur and professional, can be regularly exposed to levels of noise that can 

be harmful; 

Whereas, over time, continued exposure to harmful noise levels can lead to permanent noise-induced hearing loss; 

Whereas hearing loss from harmful noise can negatively impact communication and quality of life for an individual; 

Whereas hearing loss from harmful noise is permanent and 

is not reversible, but is preventable; 

Whereas individuals can protect themselves against noise-induced hearing loss through simple measures to reduce exposure to loud sounds, including turning down the volume, moving away from the source of sound, and wearing 

hearing protection when involved in a loud activity; 

Whereas protecting the ears of children is an important 

measure to help prevent noise-induced hearing loss beVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:26 Oct 27, 2017 Jkt 079200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR309.IS SR309

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•SRES 309 IS 

cause children may be more susceptible to damage than 

adults and are too young to protect their own ears; 

Whereas Congress can help raise awareness among the general public about the importance of protecting hearing; 

and 

Whereas October 2017 would be an appropriate month to 

designate as ‘‘National Protect Your Hearing Month’’: 

Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) supports the designation of October 2017 as 

3 ‘‘National Protect Your Hearing Month’’; and 

4 (2) recognizes that all individuals in the United 

5 States should become more aware of— 

6 (A) the potential for noise-induced hearing 

7 loss as a result of daily activities; and 

8 (B) the measures that individuals can take 

9 to protect hearing for a lifetime. 

Æ 


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