III 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 57 

Designating the first week of April 2009 as ‘‘National Asbestos Awareness 

Week’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

FEBRUARY 26, 2009 

Mr. BAUCUS (for himself, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. ISAKSON, Mr. TESTER, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. REID, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mrs. MURRAY, and Mrs. 

BOXER) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 

Committee on the Judiciary 

MARCH 5, 2009 

Committee discharged; considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Designating the first week of April 2009 as ‘‘National 

Asbestos Awareness Week’’. 

Whereas dangerous asbestos fibers are invisible and cannot 

be smelled or tasted; 

Whereas the inhalation of airborne asbestos fibers can cause 

significant damage; 

Whereas asbestos fibers can cause mesothelioma, asbestosis, 

and other health problems; 

Whereas asbestos-related diseases can take 10 to 50 years to 

present themselves; 


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SRES 57 ATS 

Whereas the expected survival time for those diagnosed with 

mesothelioma is between 6 and 24 months; 

Whereas generally, little is known about late-stage treatment 

of asbestos-related diseases, and there is no cure for such 

diseases; 

Whereas early detection of asbestos-related diseases may give 

some patients increased treatment options and might improve their prognoses; 

Whereas the United States has reduced its consumption of 

asbestos substantially, yet continues to consume almost 

2,000 metric tons of the fibrous mineral for use in certain products throughout the Nation; 

Whereas asbestos-related diseases have killed thousands of 

people in the United States; 

Whereas exposure to asbestos continues, but safety and prevention of asbestos exposure already has significantly reduced the incidence of asbestos-related diseases and can 

further reduce the incidence of such diseases; 

Whereas asbestos has been a cause of occupational cancer; 

Whereas thousands of workers in the United States face significant asbestos exposure; 

Whereas thousands of people in the United States die from 

asbestos-related diseases every year; 

Whereas a significant percentage of all asbestos-related disease victims were exposed to asbestos on naval ships and 

in shipyards; 

Whereas asbestos was used in the construction of a significant number of office buildings and public facilities built 

before 1975; 


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SRES 57 ATS 

Whereas people in the small community of Libby, Montana 

have asbestos-related diseases at a significantly higher 

rate than the national average and suffer from mesothelioma at a significantly higher rate than the national average; and 

Whereas the establishment of a ‘‘National Asbestos Awareness Week’’ will raise public awareness about the prevalence of asbestos-related diseases and the dangers of asbestos exposure: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) designates the first week of April 2009 as 

3 ‘‘National Asbestos Awareness Week’’; 

4 (2) urges the Surgeon General to warn and 

5 educate people about the public health issue of as6 bestos exposure, which may be hazardous to their 

7 health; and 

8 (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of 

9 the Senate transmit a copy of this resolution to the 

10 Office of the Surgeon General. 

Æ 


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