[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 22734]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  NATIONAL MESOTHELIOMA AWARENESS DAY

  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 288 submitted earlier 
today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 288) Designating September 26, 2009, 
     as ``National Mesothelioma Awareness Day.''

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to 
reconsider be laid upon the table, with no interviewing action or 
debate, and any statements be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 288) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 288

       Whereas mesothelioma is a terminal cancer related to 
     exposure to asbestos that affects the lining of the lungs, 
     abdomen, heart, or testicles;
       Whereas workers who are exposed to asbestos on a daily 
     basis over a long period of time are most at risk, but even 
     short-term exposures to asbestos can cause the disease;
       Whereas exposure to asbestos for as little as 1 month can 
     cause mesothelioma 20 to 50 years later;
       Whereas asbestos was used in the construction of virtually 
     all office buildings, public schools, and homes built before 
     1975, and more than 3,000 products sold in the United States 
     contain asbestos;
       Whereas there is no known safe level of exposure to 
     asbestos;
       Whereas millions of workers in the United States have been, 
     and continue to be, exposed to dangerous levels of asbestos;
       Whereas the National Institutes of Health reported to 
     Congress in 2006 that mesothelioma is a difficult disease to 
     detect, diagnose, and treat;
       Whereas the National Cancer Institute recognizes a clear 
     need for new treatments to improve the outlook for patients 
     with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases;
       Whereas the need to develop treatments for mesothelioma was 
     overlooked for decades;
       Whereas even the best available treatments for mesothelioma 
     typically have only a very limited effect, and a person 
     diagnosed with mesothelioma is expected to survive between 8 
     and 14 months;
       Whereas mesothelioma has claimed the lives of such heroes 
     and public servants as Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, Jr., and 
     Congressman Bruce F. Vento;
       Whereas many mesothelioma victims were exposed to asbestos 
     while serving in the Navy;
       Whereas it is believed that many of the firefighters, 
     police officers, and rescue workers who served at Ground Zero 
     on September 11, 2001, may be at increased risk of 
     contracting mesothelioma in the future; and
       Whereas cities and localities throughout the United States 
     will recognize September 26, 2009, as ``Mesothelioma 
     Awareness Day'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates September 26, 2009, as ``National 
     Mesothelioma Awareness Day''; and
       (2) calls on the people of the United States, Federal 
     departments and agencies, States, localities, organizations, 
     and media to observe National Mesothelioma Awareness Day with 
     appropriate ceremonies and activities.

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