[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1192 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1192

  Supporting the goals and ideals of World Hepatitis Awareness Month.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 13, 2008

Mr. Honda (for himself, Ms. Lee, Mr. Towns, Mr. Payne, Mr. McNulty, and 
Mr. Dent) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Supporting the goals and ideals of World Hepatitis Awareness Month.

Whereas May is World Hepatitis Awareness Month;
Whereas World Hepatitis Awareness Month is an opportunity for the global 
        hepatitis community to increase awareness of viral hepatitis and alert a 
        worldwide audience to risk factors and symptoms of this infection;
Whereas hepatitis B and C, often described as ``silent killers'', can both lead 
        to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and ultimately liver failure and death;
Whereas in many cases, hepatitis can be cured or managed using currently 
        available treatments;
Whereas around the world, an estimated 350,000,000 to 400,000,000 people 
        worldwide are living with hepatitis B, and more than 180,000,000 people 
        worldwide are infected with hepatitis C;
Whereas in the United States, it is estimated that up to 2,000,000 people are 
        chronically infected with hepatitis B, and an estimated 5,000,000 people 
        are infected with hepatitis C;
Whereas the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has 
        identified Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, African-Americans, Native 
        Americans, and Alaskan Natives, as having higher rates of viral 
        hepatitis in the United States;
Whereas Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders account for more than half of the 
        chronic hepatitis B cases and half of the deaths resulting from chronic 
        hepatitis B infection;
Whereas the chronic viral hepatitis disease burden in the United States is 
        greatly underestimated, with only approximately 200,000 patients being 
        diagnosed with hepatitis B when the total adjusted prevalence is 
        approximately 2,000,000 people affected, and approximately 800,000 
        patients are diagnosed with hepatitis C when the total adjusted 
        prevalence is approximately 5,000,000 people affected;
Whereas the impact of late diagnosis leads to increasing need for liver 
        transplants and increased prevalence of liver cancer, which is the 
        fastest growing type of cancer in incidence in the United States while 
        other types of cancer are declining in rate;
Whereas there is a tremendous need for improving early screening, diagnosis, and 
        treatment that can prevent and control viral hepatitis and protect 
        personal and community health; and
Whereas patient groups and governments around the world have acknowledged the 
        need for greater awareness of viral hepatitis and are working together 
        on events during World Hepatitis Awareness Month in order to drive 
        awareness and galvanize action by people who may be at risk: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the United States House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of World Hepatitis 
        Awareness Month;
            (2) calls upon the people of the United States to observe 
        the month with appropriate programs and activities; and
            (3) supports raising awareness of the consequences of 
        untreated viral hepatitis and the urgency to seek appropriate 
        care as a serious public health issue.
                                 <all>