IV 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 466 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 20, 2009 Mr. Honda (for himself, Mr. Dent, Mr. Cao, Mr. Towns, Mr. McDermott, Mr. Meeks of New York, Ms. Bordallo, Mr. Faleomavaega, Mr. Wu, Ms. Speier, Mr. Al Green of Texas, Mr. Broun of Georgia, Mr. Serrano, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr. Wexler, Mr. Baca, Mr. Cassidy, Ms. Lee of California, Mr. Crowley, Mrs. Napolitano, Mrs. Christensen, Mr. Gerlach, Mrs. Maloney, Mr. Moran of Virginia, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Rangel, Mr. Bishop of New York, Mr. Becerra, Mr. Sablan, and Ms. Richardson) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned RESOLUTION Recognizing World Hepatitis Awareness Month and World Hepatitis Day May 19, 2009.

Whereas infection with the hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus and the incidence of liver disease caused by these viruses have become a global problem of urgent 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 live with chronic infection; Whereas an estimated 600,000 people die each year due the consequences of hepatitis B infection; Whereas it is estimated that 170,000,000 people world-wide are chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus, with an estimated 3,500,000 new infections every year; Whereas an estimated 1,700,000 die each year due to liver failure or primary liver cancer from chronic infection of the hepatitis C virus; Whereas an estimated 4,600,000 people in the United States are infected with either the hepatitis B or hepatitis C virus, of those, 1,400,000 people in the United States are chronically infected with the hepatitis B virus and 3,200,000 people in the United States are chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus; Whereas an estimated 46,000 new infections of the hepatitis B virus and 19,000 new infections of the hepatitis C virus occur each year domestically; Whereas chronic viral hepatitis claims roughly 14,000 lives each year; and the overall rate of hepatitis C-related deaths in the United States is expected to triple by 2019 and currently accounts for roughly 9,000 deaths each year; Whereas chronic hepatitis B and C infections cost the United States $16,000,000,000 each year, and 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 African-Americans, Asian-American and Pacific Islanders, and Latinos, as well as Native Americans and Alaskan Natives, gay and bisexual men, and persons who inject drugs, have higher rates of chronic viral hepatitis infections in the United States; Whereas 1/3 of HIV-positive people in the United States are co-infected with the hepatitis C virus and 1 out of 10 HIV-positive people in the United States are co-infected with the hepatitis B virus; Whereas life expectancies for HIV-infected persons have increased with therapy, liver disease, much of it related to HBV and HCV infections, has become the most common non-AIDS-related cause of death among this population; 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 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 goal of World Hepatitis Day on May 19, 2009, is to highlight the global nature of chronic viral hepatitis epidemics and 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 infection: Now, therefore, be it

That the House of Representatives— (1)recognizes the World Hepatitis Day; (2)supports the goals and ideals of National Hepatitis Awareness Month; and (3)supports 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 approximately 6,000,000 people in the United States and nearly 600,000,000 people worldwide who suffer from chronic viral hepatitis.