[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1302 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1302

 Supporting the goals and ideals of National Hepatitis Awareness Month 
                        and World Hepatitis Day.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 27, 2010

Mr. Cao (for himself, Mr. Honda, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Dent, and 
Mr. Cassidy) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                  the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Supporting the goals and ideals of National Hepatitis Awareness Month 
                        and World Hepatitis Day.

Whereas infection with the hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus and the 
        incidence of liver disease and cancer caused by these viruses has become 
        an urgent problem of global proportions;
Whereas it is estimated that 2,000,000,000 people worldwide have been infected 
        with the hepatitis B virus and up to 400,000,000 people worldwide live 
        with chronic infection;
Whereas an estimated 600,000 people worldwide die each year due to the 
        consequences of hepatitis B infection;
Whereas it is estimated that 170,000,000 people worldwide are chronically 
        infected with the hepatitis C virus, with an estimated 3,500,000 new 
        infections every year;
Whereas an estimated 1,700,000 people worldwide die each year due to liver 
        failure or primary liver cancer from chronic infection of the hepatitis 
        C virus;
Whereas hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections are a growing health crisis in 
        the United States, while an estimated 5,300,000 people in the United 
        States are chronically infected with either the hepatitis B or hepatitis 
        C virus;
Whereas an estimated 43,000 new infections of the hepatitis B virus and 17,000 
        new infections of the hepatitis C virus occur each year domestically;
Whereas approximately 65 percent and 75 percent of the infected population are 
        unaware that they are infected with the hepatitis B or hepatitis C 
        virus;
Whereas, because of the asymptomatic nature of the diseases, a person who has 
        become chronically infected with the hepatitis B or C virus may not have 
        symptoms for up to 40 years after the initial infection has occurred;
Whereas many people are unaware they are infected with chronic hepatitis B or 
        hepatitis C until they develop symptoms of liver cancer or liver disease 
        years later;
Whereas, as a result, approximately 15,000 people die each year from liver 
        disease or liver cancer related to chronic viral hepatitis;
Whereas hepatitis C claims roughly 12,000 deaths each year in the United States, 
        and the overall rate of hepatitis C-related deaths in the United States 
        is expected to triple by 2019;
Whereas African-Americans, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, Latinos, Native 
        Americans, Alaskan Natives, gay and bisexual men, and persons who inject 
        drugs have higher rates of chronic viral hepatitis infections in the 
        United States;
Whereas one-third of HIV-positive people in the United States are co-infected 
        with the hepatitis C virus, and one-tenth of HIV-positive people in the 
        United States are co-infected with the hepatitis B virus;
Whereas although life expectancies for HIV-positive persons have increased with 
        therapy, liver disease, mostly related to hepatitis B and hepatitis C 
        infections, has become the most common non-AIDS-related cause of death 
        among this population;
Whereas chronic hepatitis B and C infections cost the United States 
        $16,000,000,000 each year;
Whereas despite the fact that chronic viral hepatitis is the most common blood 
        borne infection in the United States, there is currently no routine and 
        universal screening in place for early detection;
Whereas in 2010, the Institute of Medicine issued a report on their findings 
        about chronic viral hepatitis, which attributed the lack of knowledge 
        and awareness among the United States public and health providers, the 
        large health disparities, and the current morbidity and mortality, to 
        the lack of dedicated resources;
Whereas the first World Hepatitis Day on May 19, 2008, brought messages about 
        the need for action, compassion, and understanding about chronic viral 
        hepatitis around the world; and
Whereas the goals of World Hepatitis Day and National Hepatitis Awareness Month 
        in May are to highlight the global nature of chronic viral hepatitis 
        epidemics, to recognize the need for a comprehensive public education 
        and awareness campaign designed to help infected patients and their 
        physicians identify and manage the secondary prevention of the disease, 
        and to help increase the length and quality of life for those diagnosed 
        with chronic hepatitis B and C infections: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of World Hepatitis Day 
        and National Hepatitis Awareness Month; and
            (2) promotes raising awareness of the risks and 
        consequences of undiagnosed chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C 
        infections, and the urgency for a robust governmental and 
        public health response to protect the health of more than 
        5,000,000 people in the United States and nearly 600,000,000 
        people worldwide who suffer from chronic viral hepatitis.
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