IV 
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 subse-
quently 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 propor-
tions; 
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•HRES 466 IH 
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 in-
fected 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; 
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•HRES 466 IH 
Whereas African-Americans, Asian-American and Pacific Is-
landers, 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 in-
creased 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 diag-
nosed with chronic hepatitis B and C infection: Now, 
therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
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•HRES 466 IH 
(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 world-
wide who suffer from chronic viral hepatitis. 
Æ 
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