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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 531 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 531

 Supporting the goals and ideals of National Hepatitis Awareness Month 
                        and World Hepatitis Day.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 14, 2010

   Mrs. Feinstein (for herself and Mr. Brown of Ohio) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, 
                     Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
 Supporting the goals and ideals of National Hepatitis Awareness Month 
                        and World Hepatitis Day.

Whereas infection with the hepatitis B and C viruses and the incidence of liver 
        disease and cancer caused by the hepatitis B and C viruses have become 
        urgent problems of global proportions;
Whereas an estimated 2,000,000,000 people worldwide have been infected with the 
        hepatitis B virus, and as many as 400,000,000 people worldwide live with 
        chronic hepatitis B infection;
Whereas an estimated 600,000 people worldwide die each year due to a hepatitis B 
        infection;
Whereas an estimated 170,000,000 people worldwide live with chronic hepatitis C 
        infection, and an estimated 3,500,000 people are newly infected with 
        hepatitis C each year;
Whereas an estimated 1,700,000 people worldwide die each year due to liver 
        failure or primary liver cancer from chronic hepatitis C infection;
Whereas infection with the hepatitis B and C viruses is a growing health crisis 
        in the United States, and an estimated 5,300,000 people in the United 
        States are chronically infected with the hepatitis B or C virus;
Whereas each year in the United States, an estimated 43,000 people are newly 
        infected with the hepatitis B virus and 17,000 people are newly infected 
        with the hepatitis C virus;
Whereas approximately 65 percent and 75 percent of the people infected with 
        hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus, respectively, are unaware of the 
        infection;
Whereas, because of the asymptomatic nature of the hepatitis B and C viruses, a 
        person who has become chronically infected with 1 of the viruses may not 
        have symptoms for up to 40 years after the initial infection has 
        occurred;
Whereas many people are unaware that they have been infected with the hepatitis 
        B or C virus until years later, when symptoms of liver cancer or liver 
        disease develop;
Whereas, as a result of late diagnosis, approximately 15,000 people die each 
        year from liver disease or liver cancer related to chronic viral 
        hepatitis;
Whereas hepatitis C claims roughly 12,000 lives each year in the United States, 
        and the overall rate of hepatitis C-related deaths in the United States 
        is expected to triple by 2019;
Whereas, in the United States, African-Americans, Asian Americans, Pacific 
        Islanders, Latinos, Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, gay and bisexual 
        men, and persons who inject drugs have higher rates of chronic viral 
        hepatitis infection;
Whereas \1/3\ of HIV-positive people in the United States are co-infected with 
        the hepatitis C virus, and \1/10\ of HIV-positive people in the United 
        States are co-infected with the hepatitis B virus;
Whereas, although life expectancies for HIV-positive persons have increased with 
        therapy, liver disease, mostly related to hepatitis B or C infections, 
        has become the most common non-AIDS-related cause of death among HIV-
        positive persons;
Whereas chronic hepatitis B and C infections cost the United States 
        $16,000,000,000 each year;
Whereas, despite the fact that chronic viral hepatitis is the most common blood-
        borne infection in the United States, no routine or universal screening 
        is in place for early detection as of the date of the agreement to this 
        resolution;
Whereas, in 2010, the Institute of Medicine issued a report on chronic viral 
        hepatitis, which attributed the lack of knowledge and awareness among 
        the public and health providers of the United States of chronic viral 
        hepatitis, the large health disparities for people infected with chronic 
        viral hepatitis, and the current morbidity and mortality rate for people 
        infected with chronic viral hepatitis, to the lack of dedicated 
        resources for chronic viral hepatitis;
Whereas the first World Hepatitis Day on May 19, 2008, raised awareness about 
        the need for action, compassion, and understanding about chronic viral 
        hepatitis around the world; and
Whereas the goals of World Hepatitis Day and National Hepatitis Awareness Month 
        are--

    (1) to highlight the global nature of the chronic viral hepatitis 
epidemic;

    (2) to recognize the need for a comprehensive public education and 
awareness campaign designed to help infected patients and the physicians of 
patients to identify and manage the secondary consequences of the disease; 
and

    (3) to help increase the length and quality of life for individuals 
diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B or C infections: Now, therefore, be it

    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of World Hepatitis Day 
        and National Hepatitis Awareness Month;
            (2) promotes raising awareness of the risks and 
        consequences of undiagnosed chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C 
        infections; and
            (3) urges a robust governmental and public health response 
        to protect the health of the more than 5,000,000 people in the 
        United States and nearly 600,000,000 people worldwide who 
        suffer from chronic viral hepatitis.
                                 <all>
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