[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 185 (Friday, December 18, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8888-S8889]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 341--DESIGNATING JANUARY 2016 AS ``NATIONAL CARBON 
                  MONOXIDE POISONING AWARENESS MONTH''

  Mr. SCHUMER (for himself and Ms. Klobuchar) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 341

       Whereas carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that 
     is produced whenever any fuel, such as natural gas, propane, 
     gasoline, oil, kerosene, wood, or charcoal, is burned;
       Whereas devices that produce carbon monoxide include cars, 
     boats, gasoline engines, stoves, and heating systems, and 
     carbon monoxide produced from these sources can build up in 
     enclosed or semi-enclosed spaces;
       Whereas carbon monoxide is often referred to as the 
     ``silent killer'' because it is colorless, odorless, 
     tasteless, and nonirritating, and ignoring early stages of 
     carbon monoxide poisoning may cause unconsciousness and 
     continual exposure to danger;
       Whereas according to the Centers for Disease Control and 
     Prevention, each year in the United States, carbon monoxide 
     poisoning kills more than 400 individuals and sends 
     approximately 20,000 individuals to emergency rooms;
       Whereas when people breathe in carbon monoxide, the 
     poisonous gas enters the bloodstream and prevents adequate 
     intake of oxygen, which can damage tissues and result in 
     death;
       Whereas individuals older than the age of 65, given common 
     preexisting medical conditions, are particularly vulnerable 
     to carbon monoxide poisoning;
       Whereas for most individuals who suffer from carbon 
     monoxide poisoning, the early signs of exposure to low 
     concentrations of carbon monoxide include mild headaches and 
     breathlessness after moderate exercise;
       Whereas sustained or increased exposure to carbon monoxide 
     can lead to flu-like symptoms, including severe headaches, 
     dizziness, tiredness, nausea, confusion, irritability, and 
     impaired judgment, memory, and coordination;
       Whereas breathing in low concentrations of carbon monoxide 
     can cause long-term health damage, even after exposure to the 
     gas ends;
       Whereas most cases of carbon monoxide exposure occur during 
     the winter months of December, January, and February when oil 
     and gas heaters are more heavily in use;
       Whereas on January 5, 1996, the Burt family of Kimball, 
     Minnesota, was poisoned by carbon monoxide from a 
     malfunctioning furnace in the home of the Burt family, 
     resulting in--
       (1) the deaths of 15-month-old Zachary Todd Burt and 4-
     year-old Nicholas Todd Burt; and
       (2) the hospitalization of Ryan Todd Burt;
       Whereas Cheryl Burt, the mother of Zachary, Nicholas, and 
     Ryan Burt, has worked to educate the public about the dangers 
     of carbon monoxide poisoning, including by testifying in 
     December 2009 before the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation of the Senate;
       Whereas Cheryl Burt has advocated for the Nicholas and 
     Zachary Burt Memorial Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention 
     Act, which would establish a Federal grant program for State 
     and tribal carbon monoxide poisoning prevention activities;
       Whereas on January 17, 2009, Amanda J. Hansen, a junior and 
     member of the swim team at West Seneca West High School, in 
     West Seneca, New York, passed away from carbon monoxide 
     poisoning while sleeping near a faulty basement boiler during 
     a sleepover party;
       Whereas Amanda J. Hansen loved Spanish, was a member of the 
     Spanish Honor Society at West Seneca West High School, and 
     wanted to eventually teach Spanish;
       Whereas Amanda J. Hansen hoped to attend college at the 
     University of North Carolina;
       Whereas responding to tragedy, Ken and Kim Hansen 
     established the Amanda Hansen Foundation to honor their 
     daughter by raising money for a scholarship fund and 
     spreading awareness about the dangers of carbon monoxide and 
     the importance of taking safety measures, such as using 
     carbon monoxide detectors in residences;
       Whereas the Amanda Hansen Foundation works with lawmakers 
     and local communities to educate the public on the dangers of 
     carbon monoxide poisoning;
       Whereas the Amanda Hansen Foundation raises money to 
     purchase carbon monoxide detectors for individuals who cannot 
     afford the detectors and has given away 17,000 carbon 
     monoxide detectors;
       Whereas the Amanda Hansen Foundation and Ken and Kim Hansen 
     through their work with the Foundation collaborate with other 
     national organizations to ensure that carbon monoxide 
     detectors are as ubiquitous as possible;
       Whereas the Hansen family fought in 2010 for the passage of 
     ``Amanda's Law'', a law that mandates the installation of 
     carbon monoxide detectors in new and existing residences with 
     fuel-burning appliances and the replacement of carbon 
     monoxide detectors every 5 years;
       Whereas the Amanda Hansen Foundation has paid to replace 
     furnaces in the Buffalo, New York area with furnaces that are 
     safer and more energy efficient; and
       Whereas in memory of their daughter, the Hansen family has 
     worked tirelessly to make New York and the rest of the United 
     States a safer place: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate designates January 2016 as 
     ``National Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Awareness Month''.

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