2007 National Asbestos Awareness Week

Senate Resolution 108

Designating the first week of April 2007 as `National Asbestos Awareness Week’.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

110th CONGRESS

1st Session

Designating the first week of April 2007 as `National Asbestos Awareness Week'.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

Mr. Baucus submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

RESOLUTION 108

Designating the first week of April 2007 as `National Asbestos Awareness Week'.

Whereas dangerous asbestos fibers are invisible and cannot be smelled or tasted;

Whereas the inhalation of airborne asbestos fibers can cause significant damage;

Whereas these fibers can cause mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other health problems;

Whereas asbestos-related diseases can take 10 to 50 years to present themselves;

Whereas the expected survival time for those diagnosed with mesothelioma is between 6 and 24 months;

Whereas generally little is known about late stage treatment and there is no cure for asbestos-related diseases;

Whereas early detection of asbestos-related diseases may give some patients increased treatment options and might improve their prognosis;

Whereas the United States has substantially reduced its consumption of asbestos yet continues to consume almost 7,000 metric tons of the fibrous mineral for use in certain products throughout the Nation;

Whereas asbestos-related diseases have killed thousands of people in the United States;

Whereas asbestos exposures continue and safety and prevention will reduce and has reduced significantly asbestos exposure-related diseases;

Whereas asbestos has been a cause of occupational cancer;

Whereas thousands of workers in the United States face significant asbestos exposure;

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 have asbestos-related diseases at a significantly higher rate than the national average and suffer from mesothelioma at a significantly-higher rate than the national average; and

Whereas the establishment of a “National Asbestos Awareness Week” would raise public awareness about the prevalence of asbestos-related diseases and the dangers of asbestos exposure; Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That the Senate—

2 (1) designates the first week of April 2007 as

3 “National Asbestos Awareness Week”;

4 (2) urges the Surgeon General, as a public health

5 issue, to warn and educate people that

6 asbestos exposure may be hazardous to their health; and

7 (3) respectfully requests the Secretary of the

8 Senate to transmit a copy of this resolution to the

9 Surgeon General.

Information courtesy of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization

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