Designating the first week of April 2015 as ‘‘National Asbestos Awareness Week’’
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
Mr. MARKEY (for himself, Mrs. BOXER, Mr. DURBIN, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr.
CARDIN, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. REID, Mr. TESTER, Mr. ISAKSON, Mr.
SCHUMER, Ms. WARREN, Mr. DAINES, Mr. BOOKER, Mr. CRAPO, and
Mrs. GILLIBRAND)
RESOLUTION
Designating the first week of April 2015 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 10
to 50 years to present themselves;
Whereas the projected life expectancy for an individual diagnosed
with mesothelioma is between 6 and 24 months;
Whereas generally, little is known about late-stage treatment
of asbestos-related diseases, and there is no cure for such
diseases;
Whereas early detection of asbestos-related diseases may give
some patients increased treatment options and might improve
their prognoses;
Whereas the United States has substantially reduced its consumption
of asbestos, yet continues to consume hundreds
of metric tons of the fibrous mineral each year for use
in certain products throughout the United States;
Whereas asbestos-related diseases have killed thousands of
people in the United States;
Whereas while exposure to asbestos continues, safety and prevention
of asbestos exposure already has significantly reduced
the incidence of asbestos-related diseases and can further reduce
the incidence of such diseases;
….
Jon L. Gelman of Wayne NJ is the author of NJ Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thompson-Reuters) and co-author of the national treatise, Modern Workers’ Compensation Law (West-Thompson-Reuters). For over 4 decades the Law Offices of Jon L Gelman 1.973.696.7900 jon@gelmans.com have been representing injured workers and their families who have suffered occupational accidents and illnesses.
