[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 73 (Friday, May 14, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3786-S3787]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 531--SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL 
           HEPATITIS AWARENESS MONTH AND WORLD HEPATITIS DAY

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself and Mr. Brown of Ohio) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 531

       Whereas infection with the hepatitis B and C viruses and 
     the incidence of liver disease

[[Page S3787]]

     and cancer caused by the hepatitis B and C viruses have 
     become urgent problems of global proportions;
       Whereas an estimated 2,000,000,000 people worldwide have 
     been infected with the hepatitis B virus, and as many as 
     400,000,000 people worldwide live with chronic hepatitis B 
     infection;
       Whereas an estimated 600,000 people worldwide die each year 
     due to a hepatitis B infection;
       Whereas an estimated 170,000,000 people worldwide live with 
     chronic hepatitis C infection, and an estimated 3,500,000 
     people are newly infected with hepatitis C each year;
       Whereas an estimated 1,700,000 people worldwide die each 
     year due to liver failure or primary liver cancer from 
     chronic hepatitis C infection;
       Whereas infection with the hepatitis B and C viruses is a 
     growing health crisis in the United States, and an estimated 
     5,300,000 people in the United States are chronically 
     infected with the hepatitis B or C virus;
       Whereas each year in the United States, an estimated 43,000 
     people are newly infected with the hepatitis B virus and 
     17,000 people are newly infected with the hepatitis C virus;
       Whereas approximately 65 percent and 75 percent of the 
     people infected with hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus, 
     respectively, are unaware of the infection;
       Whereas, because of the asymptomatic nature of the 
     hepatitis B and C viruses, a person who has become 
     chronically infected with 1 of the viruses may not have 
     symptoms for up to 40 years after the initial infection has 
     occurred;
       Whereas many people are unaware that they have been 
     infected with the hepatitis B or C virus until years later, 
     when symptoms of liver cancer or liver disease develop;
       Whereas, as a result of late diagnosis, 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 lives 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, in the United States, 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 infection;
       Whereas 1/3 of HIV-positive people in the United States are 
     co-infected with the hepatitis C virus, and 1/10 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 or C infections, has become the most 
     common non-AIDS-related cause of death among HIV-positive 
     persons;
       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, 
     no routine or universal screening is in place for early 
     detection as of the date of the agreement to this resolution;
       Whereas, in 2010, the Institute of Medicine issued a report 
     on chronic viral hepatitis, which attributed the lack of 
     knowledge and awareness among the public and health providers 
     of the United States of chronic viral hepatitis, the large 
     health disparities for people infected with chronic viral 
     hepatitis, and the current morbidity and mortality rate for 
     people infected with chronic viral hepatitis, to the lack of 
     dedicated resources for chronic viral hepatitis;
       Whereas the first World Hepatitis Day on May 19, 2008, 
     raised awareness 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 are--
       (1) to highlight the global nature of the chronic viral 
     hepatitis epidemic;
       (2) to recognize the need for a comprehensive public 
     education and awareness campaign designed to help infected 
     patients and the physicians of patients to identify and 
     manage the secondary consequences of the disease; and
       (3) to help increase the length and quality of life for 
     individuals diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B or C 
     infections: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of World Hepatitis Day 
     and National Hepatitis Awareness Month;
       (2) promotes raising awareness of the risks and 
     consequences of undiagnosed chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis 
     C infections; and
       (3) urges a robust governmental and public health response 
     to protect the health of the more than 5,000,000 people in 
     the United States and nearly 600,000,000 people worldwide who 
     suffer from chronic viral hepatitis.

                          ____________________