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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1138 Introduced in House (IH)]

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;
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 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
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives urges the Surgeon 
General--
            (1) to warn and educate people about the public health 
        dangers of asbestos exposure, which may be hazardous to their 
        health; and
            (2) as part of such educational efforts, to designate a 
        ``National Asbestos Awareness Week''.
                                 <all>
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