III 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 70 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 5, 2015 Mr. Schumer submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary RESOLUTION Designating February 2015 as National Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Awareness Month .

Whereas carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that is produced whenever any fuel, such as natural gas, propane, gasoline, oil, kerosene, wood, or charcoal, is burned; Whereas devices that produce carbon monoxide include cars, boats, gasoline engines, stoves, and heating systems, and carbon monoxide produced from these sources can build up in enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces; Whereas carbon monoxide is often referred to as the silent killer because it is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and nonirritating, and ignoring early stages of carbon monoxide poisoning may cause unconsciousness and continual exposure to danger; Whereas according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year in the United States, carbon monoxide poisoning kills more than 400 individuals and sends approximately 20,000 individuals to emergency rooms; Whereas when people breathe in carbon monoxide, the poisonous gas enters the bloodstream and prevents adequate intake of oxygen, which can damage tissues and result in death; Whereas given their common preexisting medical conditions, individuals older than age 65 are particularly vulnerable to carbon monoxide poisoning; Whereas for most individuals who suffer from carbon monoxide poisoning, the early signs of exposure to low concentrations of carbon monoxide include mild headaches and breathlessness upon moderate exercise; Whereas sustained or increased exposure to carbon monoxide can lead to flu-like symptoms, including severe headaches, dizziness, tiredness, nausea, confusion, irritability, and impaired judgment, memory, and coordination; Whereas breathing in low concentrations of carbon monoxide can cause long-term health damage, even after exposure to the gas ends; Whereas most cases of carbon monoxide exposure occur during the winter months of December, January, and February when oil and gas heaters are more heavily in use; Whereas, on January 17, 2009, Amanda J. Hansen, a junior and member of the swim team at West Seneca West High School, in West Seneca, New York, passed away from carbon monoxide poisoning while sleeping near a faulty basement boiler during a sleepover party; Whereas Amanda J. Hansen loved Spanish, was a member of the Spanish Honor Society at West Seneca West High School, and wanted to eventually teach Spanish; Whereas Amanda J. Hansen hoped to attend college at the University of North Carolina; Whereas responding to tragedy, Ken and Kim Hansen established the Amanda Hansen Foundation to honor their daughter by raising money for a scholarship fund and spreading awareness about the dangers of carbon monoxide and the importance of taking safety measures, such as using carbon monoxide detectors in residences; Whereas the Amanda Hansen Foundation works with lawmakers and local communities to educate the public on the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning; Whereas the Amanda Hansen Foundation raises money for purchasing carbon monoxide detectors for individuals who cannot afford them and has given away 17,000 carbon monoxide detectors; Whereas the Amanda Hansen Foundation and Ken and Kim Hansen through their work with the Foundation collaborate with other national organizations to ensure that carbon monoxide detectors are as ubiquitous as possible; Whereas the Hansen family fought in 2010 for the passage of Amanda’s Law , a law that mandates the installation of carbon monoxide detectors in new and existing residences with fuel burning appliances and the replacement of such detectors every 5 years; Whereas the Amanda Hansen Foundation has paid to replace furnaces in the Buffalo, New York, area with furnaces that are safer and more energy efficient; and Whereas in memory of their daughter, the Hansen family has worked tirelessly to make New York and the rest of the United States a safer place: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate designates February 2015 as National Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Awareness Month .