IV 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 1192 
Supporting the goals and ideals of World Hepatitis Awareness Month. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 13, 2008 
Mr. HONDA (for himself, Ms. LEE, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. MCNULTY, 
and Mr. DENT) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
RESOLUTION 
Supporting the goals and ideals of World Hepatitis 
Awareness Month. 
Whereas May is World Hepatitis Awareness Month; 
Whereas World Hepatitis Awareness Month is an opportunity 
for the global hepatitis community to increase awareness 
of viral hepatitis and alert a worldwide audience to risk 
factors and symptoms of this infection; 
Whereas hepatitis B and C, often described as ‘‘silent kill-
ers’’, can both lead to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and ulti-
mately liver failure and death; 
Whereas in many cases, hepatitis can be cured or managed 
using currently available treatments; 
Whereas around the world, an estimated 350,000,000 to 
400,000,000 people worldwide are living with hepatitis B, 
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•HRES 1192 IH 
and more than 180,000,000 people worldwide are in-
fected with hepatitis C; 
Whereas in the United States, it is estimated that up to 
2,000,000 people are chronically infected with hepatitis 
B, and an estimated 5,000,000 people are infected with 
hepatitis C; 
Whereas the United States Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention has identified Asian Americans, Pacific Is-
landers, African-Americans, Native Americans, and Alas-
kan Natives, as having higher rates of viral hepatitis in 
the United States; 
Whereas Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders account for 
more than half of the chronic hepatitis B cases and half 
of the deaths resulting from chronic hepatitis B infection; 
Whereas the chronic viral hepatitis disease burden in the 
United States is greatly underestimated, with only ap-
proximately 200,000 patients being diagnosed with hepa-
titis B when the total adjusted prevalence is approxi-
mately 2,000,000 people affected, and approximately 
800,000 patients are diagnosed with hepatitis C when the 
total adjusted prevalence is approximately 5,000,000 peo-
ple affected; 
Whereas the impact of late diagnosis leads to increasing need 
for liver transplants and increased prevalence of liver 
cancer, which is the fastest growing type of cancer in in-
cidence in the United States while other types of cancer 
are declining in rate; 
Whereas there is a tremendous need for improving early 
screening, diagnosis, and treatment that can prevent and 
control viral hepatitis and protect personal and commu-
nity health; and 
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•HRES 1192 IH 
Whereas patient groups and governments around the world 
have acknowledged the need for greater awareness of 
viral hepatitis and are working together on events during 
World Hepatitis Awareness Month in order to drive 
awareness and galvanize action by people who may be at 
risk: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the United States House of Rep-
resentatives— 
(1) supports the goals and ideals of World Hep-
atitis Awareness Month; 
(2) calls upon the people of the United States 
to observe the month with appropriate programs and 
activities; and 
(3) supports raising awareness of the con-
sequences of untreated viral hepatitis and the ur-
gency to seek appropriate care as a serious public 
health issue. 
Æ 
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