110 HRES 1192 IH: Supporting the goals and ideals of World U.S. House of Representatives 2008-05-13 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

IV 110th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1192 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

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.