IV 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1138 

Expressing support for the designation of the first week of April 2010 

as National Asbestos Awareness Week. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 4, 2010 

Mr. COHEN (for himself, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mrs. CAPPS, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, and Ms. SUTTON) submitted the following resolution; which was 

referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of the first week 

of April 2010 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, including mesothelioma, asbestosis, 

and other health problems; 

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

appear; 

Whereas the expected survival time for people diagnosed with 

mesothelioma is between 6 and 24 months; 


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•HRES 1138 IH 

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 World Health Organization, the Environmental 

Protection Agency, and the Surgeon General currently 

state that there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos; 

Whereas, although the United States has reduced its use of 

asbestos substantially, the United States continues to use 

almost 2,000 metric tons of the fibrous mineral in certain 

products; 

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; 

Whereas people in the small community of Libby, Montana, 

have asbestos-related diseases at a significantly higher 


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•HRES 1138 IH 

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 House of Representatives urges 

2 the Surgeon General— 

3 (1) to warn and educate people about the public 

4 health dangers of asbestos exposure, which may be 

5 hazardous to their health; and 

6 (2) as part of such educational efforts, to des7 ignate a ‘‘National Asbestos Awareness Week’’. 

Æ 


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