SRES 666
A resolution designating the first week of April as "National Asbestos Awareness Week".
Take action
Record your position on this measure.
Sign in to record your position, submit testimony, or contact your legislator.
Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To President
- Became Law
Bill overview
This resolution aims to raise public awareness about the dangers of asbestos exposure and the significant health problems it can cause. It designates the first week of April each year as ‘National Asbestos Awareness Week’. The resolution also encourages the Surgeon General to educate the public about the risks associated with asbestos and requests the Senate Secretary to forward the resolution to the Surgeon General.
Key provisions
- Designates the first week of April as National Asbestos Awareness Week.
- Urges the Surgeon General to issue public health warnings about asbestos exposure.
- Requests the Senate Secretary to transmit the resolution to the Surgeon General.
Who is affected
- Workers exposed to asbestos
- Individuals with asbestos-related diseases
- Residents of communities with high asbestos exposure rates (e.g., Libby, Montana)
- Consumers of products containing asbestos
Notable changes
- The resolution seeks to increase public awareness regarding the long-term health risks of asbestos exposure, which can manifest decades after initial exposure.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
No arguments in favor have been submitted.
Submit yoursArguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
No arguments opposed have been submitted.
Submit yoursRead the latest version inline or switch to a previous version.
119th CONGRESS — 2d Session
S. RES. 666
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
RESOLUTION
Designating the first week of April 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 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, United States consumers continue to purchase 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, and 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 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
for the 21st year will continue to raise public awareness about the prevalence of asbestos-related diseases and the dangers of asbestos exposure: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate—
designates the first week of April as National Asbestos Awareness Week
;
urges the Surgeon General to warn and educate people about the public health issue of asbestos exposure, which may be hazardous to their health; and
respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to the Office of the Surgeon General.