[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 462 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 462

    Designating the first week of April 2008 as ``National Asbestos 
                           Awareness Week''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 27, 2008

Mr. Baucus (for himself, Mr. Reid, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Tester, Mrs. Murray, 
Mr. Isakson, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Feinstein, and Mr. Kennedy) submitted the 
   following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
                               Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Designating the first week of April 2008 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 these fibers can cause mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other health 
        problems;
Whereas asbestos-related diseases can take 10 to 50 years to present themselves;
Whereas the expected survival time for those diagnosed with mesothelioma is 
        between 6 and 24 months;
Whereas generally little is known about late stage treatment and there is no 
        cure for asbestos-related diseases;
Whereas early detection of asbestos-related diseases may give some patients 
        increased treatment options and might improve their prognosis;
Whereas the United States has substantially reduced its consumption of asbestos 
        yet continues to consume almost 2,000 metric tons of the fibrous mineral 
        for use in certain products throughout the Nation;
Whereas asbestos-related diseases have killed thousands of people in the United 
        States;
Whereas asbestos exposures continue and safety and prevention will reduce and 
        has reduced significantly asbestos exposure and asbestos-related 
        diseases;
Whereas asbestos has been a cause of occupational cancer;
Whereas thousands of workers in the United States face significant asbestos 
        exposure;
Whereas thousands of people in the United States die from asbestos-related 
        diseases every year;
Whereas a significant percentage of all asbestos-related disease victims 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 have asbestos-related 
        diseases at a significantly higher rate than the national average and 
        suffer from mesothelioma at a significantly higher rate than the 
        national average; and
Whereas the establishment of a ``National Asbestos Awareness Week'' would 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 2008 as ``National 
        Asbestos Awareness Week'';
            (2) urges the Surgeon General, as a public health issue, to 
        warn and educate people that asbestos exposure may be hazardous 
        to their health; and
            (3) respectfully requests the Secretary of the Senate to 
        transmit a copy of this resolution to the Surgeon General.
                                 <all>