119-sres140

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 140 Agreed to Senate

    (ATS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
S. RES. 140

 Designating the first week of April 2025 as ``National Asbestos 
 Awareness Week''.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 March 26, 2025

 Mr. Merkley (for himself, Mr. Daines, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Sheehy, Mr. 
 Padilla, Mr. Markey, Mr. Booker, and Mr. Schiff) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

 RESOLUTION

 Designating the first week of April 2025 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, 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 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 20th 
 year will continue to 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 2025 as ``National 
 Asbestos Awareness Week'';

    (2) 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

    (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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