[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Con. Res. 108 Referred in House (RFH)]

  2d Session
S. CON. RES. 108


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                   IN THE HOUSE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 13, 2004

            Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

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                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
      Supporting the goals and ideals of Tinnitus Awareness Week.

Whereas 50,000,000 individuals in the United States have experienced tinnitus, 
        the perception of noises or ringing in the ears and head when no 
        external sound source is present;
Whereas 12,000,000 individuals in the United States experience tinnitus to an 
        incessant and debilitating degree, such that the sounds in their ears 
        and heads never abate, forcing them to seek assistance from a health 
        care professional;
Whereas tinnitus is frequently caused by exposure to loud noises in the 
        workplace, where an estimated 30,000,000 individuals in the United 
        States are exposed to injurious levels of noise each day, and where 
        noise-induced hearing loss is the most common occupational injury;
Whereas tinnitus is also caused by exposure to loud noises in recreational 
        settings, where levels of sound can reach traumatic levels, and where 
        individuals frequently are not aware that temporary ringing in the ears 
        can become permanent after continued exposure to loud levels of sound;
Whereas in many cases, simply wearing proper hearing protection would protect 
        individuals from damaging their hearing;
Whereas many individuals with tinnitus are told that the only solution to their 
        condition is to learn to live with it, even though treatments for 
        tinnitus are available that can help reduce the stress of the incessant 
        ringing and increase the coping skills and quality of life for 
        individuals who experience this condition; and
Whereas the American Tinnitus Association has designated the week beginning May 
        15, 2004, as the first National Tinnitus Awareness Week, in order to 
        raise public awareness and to further its mission to silence tinnitus 
        through education, advocacy, research, and support: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Tinnitus 
        Awareness Week, as designated by the American Tinnitus 
        Association;
            (2) encourages interested groups and affected persons to 
        promote public awareness of tinnitus, the dangers of loud 
        noise, and the importance of hearing protection for all 
        individuals; and
            (3) commits to continuing its support of innovative hearing 
        health research through the National Institutes of Health, 
        particularly through the National Institute on Deafness and 
        Other Communication Disorders, so that treatments for tinnitus 
        can be refined and a cure for tinnitus can be discovered.

            Passed the Senate May 12, 2004.

            Attest:

                                              EMILY J. REYNOLDS

                                                             Secretary.