IV 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 771 
Supporting the goals and ideals of a National Mesothelioma Awareness Day. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 24, 2009 
Ms. MCCOLLUM (for herself, Mrs. CAPPS, Mr. ELLISON, Mr. COHEN, Mr. 
OBERSTAR, Mr. LANCE, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. BORDALLO, and Mr. GENE 
GREEN of Texas) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 
RESOLUTION 
Supporting the goals and ideals of a National Mesothelioma 
Awareness Day. 
Whereas mesothelioma is a terminal, asbestos-related cancer 
that affects the linings of the lungs, abdomen, heart, or 
testicles; 
Whereas workers exposed on a daily basis over a long period 
of time are most at risk, but even short-term exposures 
can cause the disease and an exposure to asbestos for as 
little as one month can result in mesothelioma 20–50 
years later; 
Whereas asbestos was used in the construction of virtually all 
office buildings, public schools, and homes built before 
1975 and asbestos is still on the United States market 
in over 3,000 products; 
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•HRES 771 IH 
Whereas there is no known safe level of exposure to asbestos; 
Whereas millions of workers in the United States have been, 
and continue to be, exposed to dangerous levels of asbes-
tos; 
Whereas the National Institutes of Health reported to Con-
gress in 2006 that mesothelioma is a difficult disease to 
detect, diagnose, and treat; 
Whereas the National Cancer Institute recognizes a clear 
need for new agents to improve the outlook for patients 
with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases; 
Whereas for decades, the need to develop treatments for 
mesothelioma was overlooked and today, even the best 
available treatments usually have only a very limited ef-
fect and the expected survival time of those diagnosed 
with the disease is between 8 and 14 months; 
Whereas mesothelioma has claimed the lives of such heroes 
and public servants as Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, Jr., and 
Congressman Bruce F. Vento, and a high percentage of 
today’s mesothelioma victims were exposed to asbestos 
while serving in the United States Navy; 
Whereas it is believed that many of the firefighters, police of-
ficers, and rescue workers from Ground Zero on Sep-
tember 11, 2001, may be at increased risk of contracting 
mesothelioma in the future; 
Whereas the establishment of a National Mesothelioma 
Awareness Day would raise public awareness of the dis-
ease and of the need to develop treatments and enhance 
public awareness for it; and 
Whereas cities and localities across the country are recog-
nizing September 26 as Mesothelioma Awareness Day: 
Now, therefore, be it 
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•HRES 771 IH 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the goals and ideals of Mesothe-
lioma Awareness Day; and 
(2) urges the President to issue a proclamation 
calling on the people of the United States, Federal 
departments and agencies, States, localities, organi-
zations, and media to annually observe a National 
Mesothelioma Awareness day with appropriate cere-
monies and activities. 
Æ 
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