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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 466 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 466

Recognizing World Hepatitis Awareness Month and World Hepatitis Day May 
                               19, 2009.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 20, 2009

 Mr. Honda (for himself, Mr. Dent, Mr. Cao, Mr. Towns, Mr. McDermott, 
  Mr. Meeks of New York, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Faleomavaega, Mr. Wu, Ms. 
 Speier, Mr. Al Green of Texas, Mr. Broun of Georgia, Mr. Serrano, Ms. 
     Roybal-Allard, Mr. Wexler, Mr. Baca, Mr. Cassidy, Ms. Lee of 
    California, Mr. Crowley, Mrs. Napolitano, Mrs. Christensen, Mr. 
Gerlach, Mrs. Maloney, Mr. Moran of Virginia, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Rangel, 
 Mr. Bishop of New York, Mr. Becerra, Mr. Sablan, and Ms. Richardson) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
  on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign 
Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in 
   each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the 
                jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
Recognizing World Hepatitis Awareness Month and World Hepatitis Day May 
                               19, 2009.

Whereas infection with the hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus and the 
        incidence of liver disease caused by these viruses have become a global 
        problem of urgent proportions;
Whereas it is estimated that 2,000,000,000 people worldwide have been infected 
        with the hepatitis B virus and up to 400,000,000 live with chronic 
        infection;
Whereas an estimated 600,000 people die each year due the consequences of 
        hepatitis B infection;
Whereas it is estimated that 170,000,000 people world-wide are chronically 
        infected with the hepatitis C virus, with an estimated 3,500,000 new 
        infections every year;
Whereas an estimated 1,700,000 die each year due to liver failure or primary 
        liver cancer from chronic infection of the hepatitis C virus;
Whereas an estimated 4,600,000 people in the United States are infected with 
        either the hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus, of those, 1,400,000 people 
        in the United States are chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus 
        and 3,200,000 people in the United States are chronically infected with 
        the hepatitis C virus;
Whereas an estimated 46,000 new infections of the hepatitis B virus and 19,000 
        new infections of the hepatitis C virus occur each year domestically;
Whereas chronic viral hepatitis claims roughly 14,000 lives each year; and the 
        overall rate of hepatitis C-related deaths in the United States is 
        expected to triple by 2019 and currently accounts for roughly 9,000 
        deaths each year;
Whereas chronic hepatitis B and C infections cost the United States 
        $16,000,000,000 each year, and a person who has become chronically 
        infected with the hepatitis B or C virus may not have symptoms for up to 
        40 years after the initial infection has occurred;
Whereas African-Americans, Asian-American and Pacific Islanders, and Latinos, as 
        well as Native Americans and Alaskan Natives, gay and bisexual men, and 
        persons who inject drugs, have higher rates of chronic viral hepatitis 
        infections in the United States;
Whereas \1/3\ of HIV-positive people in the United States are co-infected with 
        the hepatitis C virus and 1 out of 10 HIV-positive people in the United 
        States are co-infected with the hepatitis B virus;
Whereas life expectancies for HIV-infected persons have increased with therapy, 
        liver disease, much of it related to HBV and HCV infections, has become 
        the most common non-AIDS-related cause of death among this population;
Whereas despite the fact that chronic viral hepatitis is the most common blood 
        borne infection in the United States, there is currently no routine and 
        universal screening in place for early detection;
Whereas the first World Hepatitis Day on May 19, 2008, brought messages about 
        the need for action, compassion, and understanding about chronic viral 
        hepatitis around the world; and
Whereas the goal of World Hepatitis Day on May 19, 2009, is to highlight the 
        global nature of chronic viral hepatitis epidemics and recognize the 
        need for a comprehensive public education and awareness campaign 
        designed to help infected patients and their physicians identify and 
        manage the secondary prevention of the disease, and to help increase the 
        length and quality of life for those diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B 
        and C infection: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the World Hepatitis Day;
            (2) supports the goals and ideals of National Hepatitis 
        Awareness Month; and
            (3) supports raising awareness of the risks and 
        consequences of undiagnosed chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C 
        infections, and the urgency for a robust governmental and 
        public health response to protect the health of approximately 
        6,000,000 people in the United States and nearly 600,000,000 
        people worldwide who suffer from chronic viral hepatitis.
                                 <all>
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