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[Page S1622]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS
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SENATE RESOLUTION 92--DESIGNATING THE FIRST WEEK OF APRIL 2019 AS
``NATIONAL ASBESTOS AWARENESS WEEK''
Mr. TESTER (for himself, Mr. Daines, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Booker, Ms.
Harris, Mr. Markey, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Merkley,
Ms. Warren, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Carper, and Mr. Isakson) submitted the
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
S. Res. 92
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 might
give some patients increased treatment options and might
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 throughout the United
States;
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, and 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 all 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 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 2019 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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