[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 56 (Thursday, March 25, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S1837]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 145--DESIGNATING THE FIRST WEEK OF APRIL 2021 AS 
                  ``NATIONAL ASBESTOS AWARENESS WEEK''

  Mr. TESTER (for himself, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Daines, Mr. 
Carper, and Mr. Durbin) submitted the following resolution; which was 
considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 145

       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 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 may 
     improve the prognoses of those patients;
       Whereas, although 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;
       Whereas thousands of people in the United States have died 
     from asbestos-related diseases and thousands more die every 
     year from those diseases;
       Whereas, although individuals continue to be exposed to 
     asbestos, safety measures relating to the prevention of 
     asbestos exposure have 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 a significant percentage of victims of asbestos-
     related diseases 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 individuals 
     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 2021 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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