Title: A resolution designating the first week of April 2021 as "National Asbestos Awareness Week".
Policy area: Health

Summary:
This resolution designates the first week of April 2021 as National Asbestos Awareness Week.
It also urges the Surgeon General to warn and educate people about asbestos exposure, which may be hazardous to their health.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 145 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 145

    Designating the first week of April 2021 as ``National Asbestos 
                           Awareness Week''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 25, 2021

 Mr. Tester (for himself, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Daines, Mr. 
 Carper, and Mr. Durbin) submitted the following resolution; which was 
                        considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Designating the first week of April 2021 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;
Whereas asbestos fibers can cause cancer (such as mesothelioma), asbestosis, and 
        other health problems;
Whereas symptoms of asbestos-related diseases can take between 10 and 50 years 
        to present themselves;
Whereas the projected life expectancy for an individual diagnosed with 
        mesothelioma is between 6 and 24 months;
Whereas little is known about late-stage treatment of asbestos-related diseases, 
        and there is no cure for those diseases;
Whereas early detection of asbestos-related diseases may give some patients 
        increased treatment options and may improve the prognoses of those 
        patients;
Whereas, although the consumption of asbestos within the United States has been 
        substantially reduced, the United States continues to consume tons of 
        the fibrous mineral each year for use in certain products;
Whereas thousands of people in the United States have died from asbestos-related 
        diseases and thousands more die every year from those diseases;
Whereas, although individuals continue to be exposed to asbestos, safety 
        measures relating to the prevention of asbestos exposure have 
        significantly reduced the incidence of asbestos-related diseases and can 
        further reduce the incidence of those diseases;
Whereas thousands of workers in the United States face significant asbestos 
        exposure, which has been a cause of occupational cancer;
Whereas a significant percentage of victims of asbestos-related diseases 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, suffer from asbestos-
        related diseases, including mesothelioma, at a significantly higher rate 
        than individuals in the United States as a whole; and
Whereas the designation 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 Senate--
            (1) designates the first week of April 2021 as ``National 
        Asbestos Awareness Week'';
            (2) urges the Surgeon General of the United States to warn 
        and educate people about the public health issue of asbestos 
        exposure, which may be hazardous to their health; and
            (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate 
        transmit a copy of this resolution to the Office of the Surgeon 
        General.
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