IV 111th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1138 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 4, 2010 Mr. Cohen (for himself, Mr. Grijalva, Mrs. Capps, Ms. Moore of Wisconsin, and Ms. Sutton) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce RESOLUTION Expressing support for the designation of the first week of April 2010 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, including mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other health problems; Whereas asbestos-related diseases can take 10 to 50 years to appear; Whereas the expected survival time for people diagnosed with mesothelioma is between 6 and 24 months; Whereas generally, little is known about late-stage treatment of asbestos-related diseases, and there is no cure for such diseases; Whereas early detection of asbestos-related diseases may give some patients increased treatment options and might improve their prognoses; Whereas the World Health Organization, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Surgeon General currently state that there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos; Whereas, although the United States has reduced its use of asbestos substantially, the United States continues to use almost 2,000 metric tons of the fibrous mineral in certain products; Whereas exposure to asbestos continues, but safety and prevention of asbestos exposure already has significantly reduced the incidence of asbestos-related diseases and can further reduce the incidence of such 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 will raise public awareness about the prevalence of asbestos-related diseases and the dangers of asbestos exposure: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives urges the Surgeon General— (1)to warn and educate people about the public health dangers of asbestos exposure, which may be hazardous to their health; and (2)as part of such educational efforts, to designate a National Asbestos Awareness Week.