[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 666 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 666

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


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

               March 27 (legislative day, March 26), 2026

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                               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
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates the first week of April 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 an enrolled copy of this resolution to the Office of 
        the Surgeon General.
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