A resolution designating the first week of April 2021 as "National Asbestos Awareness Week".

III 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 145 Designating the first week of April 2021 as ‘‘National Asbestos Awareness Week’’. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MARCH 25, 2021 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 RESOLUTION Designating the first week of April 2021 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 asbestos fibers can cause cancer (such as mesothe- lioma), asbestosis, and other health problems; Whereas symptoms of asbestos-related diseases can take be- tween 10 and 50 years to present themselves; Whereas the projected life expectancy for an individual diag- nosed with mesothelioma is between 6 and 24 months; VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:29 Mar 26, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR145.ATS SR145 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •SRES 145 ATS Whereas little is known about late-stage treatment of asbes- tos-related diseases, and there is no cure for those dis- eases; Whereas early detection of asbestos-related diseases may give some patients increased treatment options and may im- prove 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 as- bestos, safety measures relating to the prevention of as- bestos 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 sig- nificant asbestos exposure, which has been a cause of oc- cupational cancer; Whereas a significant percentage of victims of asbestos-re- lated diseases were exposed to asbestos on naval ships and in shipyards; Whereas asbestos was used in the construction of a signifi- cant 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 mesothe- lioma, at a significantly higher rate than individuals in the United States as a whole; and VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:29 Mar 26, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR145.ATS SR145 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •SRES 145 ATS 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 ex- posure: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) designates the first week of April 2021 as 2 ‘‘National Asbestos Awareness Week’’; 3 (2) urges the Surgeon General of the United 4 States to warn and educate people about the public 5 health issue of asbestos exposure, which may be haz- 6 ardous to their health; and 7 (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of 8 the Senate transmit a copy of this resolution to the 9 Office of the Surgeon General. 10 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 18:29 Mar 26, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR145.ATS SR145 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS