[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 54 (Thursday, April 28, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S4605]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  NATIONAL HEPATITIS B AWARENESS MONTH

  Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be 
discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 117 and the Senate 
proceed to its consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk 
will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 117) designating the week of May 9, 
     2005, as National Hepatitis B Awareness Week.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. CORZINE. Mr. President, I express my support today for an 
important resolution, S. Res. 117, submitted by Senators Feinstein and 
Santorum along with Senator Santorum to designate the week of May 9th 
as National Hepatitis B Awareness Week.
  Hepatitis B is an extremely infectious virus that affects more than 
12 million Americans, with 100,000 new cases expected this year. 
Unfortunately, many people don't even know they have this disease. And 
by the time they do learn about the disease it with Hepatitis B will 
develop cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer.
  The good news is that we can beat this disease. Scientists have been 
working for years and have made great strides in the study and 
treatment of Hepatitis B. As kindergarteners through college students 
know, there are very effective vaccines available to slow the 
generational relay of the virus. And just last month the FDA approved a 
new treatment drug called Baraclude that seeks to alleviate symptoms 
for those already chronically infected with the virus.
  What I surprisingly discovered is that less than 10 percent of people 
suffering from chronic Hepatitis B infection are receiving treatment. 
During this week, I strongly urge people to talk to their doctors about 
Hepatitis B vaccination, testing, and treatment; to become educated 
about Hepatitis B, the symptoms, treatments and testing available; and 
to take steps to educate those around about Hepatitis B. I urge people 
to take part in the discussions about Hepatitis B during this week. I 
also wish to applaud those working to make sure that communities and 
families and individuals are aware of this disease, testing and 
treatments available. Thank you for all of your dedication and caring.
  Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution and preamble 
be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table and any 
statements relating thereto be printed in the Record, with no 
intervening action.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 117) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 117

       Whereas hepatitis B is the most common serious liver 
     infection in the world;
       Whereas chronic hepatitis B infections cause 80 percent of 
     all primary liver cancer cases worldwide;
       Whereas 10,000,000 to 30,000,000 people will be infected 
     with the hepatitis B virus worldwide in 2005;
       Whereas approximately 100,000 people in the United States 
     will become infected with hepatitis B virus this year alone;
       Whereas fewer than 10 percent of diagnosed chronic 
     hepatitis B patients in the United States are currently 
     receiving treatment for their disease;
       Whereas healthcare and work loss costs from liver disease 
     and liver cancer-caused hepatitis B infections total more 
     than $700,000,000 annually;
       Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
     (CDC) estimates that 1,250,000 Americans are already infected 
     with hepatitis B and nearly 6,000 will die of liver 
     complications each year;
       Whereas a person who has become infected with hepatitis B 
     may not have symptoms for up to 40 years after the initial 
     infection has occurred, and there is currently no routine 
     screening in place for early detection;
       Whereas the CDC has identified African-Americans, Asian-
     Americans, and Pacific Islanders, as well as Native Americans 
     and Alaskan Natives, as having higher rates of hepatitis B 
     infection 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 in 
     the United States; and
       Whereas there is a 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: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the week of May 9, 2005, as ``National 
     Hepatitis B Awareness Week'';
       (2) calls upon the people of the United States to observe 
     the week with appropriate programs and activities; and
       (3) supports raising awareness of the consequences of 
     untreated chronic hepatitis B and the urgency to seek 
     appropriate care as a serious public health issue.

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