[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 50 (Thursday, March 22, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S1955]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 449--DESIGNATING THE FIRST WEEK OF APRIL 2018 AS 
                  ``NATIONAL ASBESTOS AWARENESS WEEK''

  Mr. TESTER (for himself, Mr. Daines, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. 
Feinstein, Mr. Whitehouse, Ms. Harris, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Merkley, Mr. 
Booker, Mr. Markey, Mr. Isakson, and Ms. Warren) submitted the 
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 449

       Whereas dangerous asbestos fibers are invisible and cannot 
     be smelled or tasted;
       Whereas the inhalation of airborne asbestos fibers can 
     cause significant damage;
       Whereas asbestos fibers can cause cancer (such as 
     mesothelioma), asbestosis, and other health problems;
       Whereas symptoms of asbestos-related diseases can take 
     between 10 and 50 years to present themselves;
       Whereas the projected life expectancy for an individual 
     diagnosed with mesothelioma is between 6 and 24 months;
       Whereas generally, little is known about late-stage 
     treatment of asbestos-related diseases, and there is no cure 
     for those diseases;
       Whereas early detection of asbestos-related diseases may 
     give some patients increased treatment options and might 
     improve the prognoses of those patients;
       Whereas while the consumption of asbestos within the United 
     States has been substantially reduced, the United States 
     continues to consume tons of the fibrous mineral each year 
     for use in certain products throughout the United States;
       Whereas asbestos-related diseases have killed thousands of 
     people in the United States;
       Whereas while exposure to asbestos continues, safety and 
     prevention of asbestos exposure already has significantly 
     reduced the incidence of asbestos-related diseases and can 
     further reduce the incidence of those diseases;
       Whereas thousands of workers in the United States face 
     significant asbestos exposure, which has been a cause of 
     occupational cancer;
       Whereas thousands of people in the United States die from 
     asbestos-related diseases every year;
       Whereas a significant percentage of all asbestos-related 
     disease victims were exposed to asbestos on naval ships and 
     in shipyards;
       Whereas asbestos was used in the construction of a 
     significant number of office buildings and public facilities 
     built before 1975;
       Whereas people in the small community of Libby, Montana, 
     suffer from asbestos-related diseases, including 
     mesothelioma, at a significantly higher rate than people in 
     the United States as a whole; and
       Whereas the designation of a ``National Asbestos Awareness 
     Week'' will raise public awareness about the prevalence of 
     asbestos-related diseases and the dangers of asbestos 
     exposure: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates the first week of April 2018 as ``National 
     Asbestos Awareness Week'';
       (2) urges the Surgeon General of the United States to warn 
     and educate people about the public health issue of asbestos 
     exposure, which may be hazardous to their health; and
       (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate 
     transmit a copy of this resolution to the Office of the 
     Surgeon General.

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