A resolution designating the week of May 9, 2005, as "National Hepatitis B Awareness Week".

        [Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 117 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

109th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 117

Designating the week of May 9, 2005, as ``National Hepatitis B
Awareness Week''.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

April 20, 2005

Mrs. Feinstein (for herself, Mr. Santorum, Mr. Specter, Ms. Stabenow,
Mr. Inouye, and Mr. Durbin) submitted the following resolution; which
was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

April 29 (legislative day, April 28), 2005

Committee discharged; considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

RESOLUTION

Designating the week of May 9, 2005, as ``National Hepatitis B
Awareness Week''.

Whereas hepatitis B is the most common serious liver infection in the world;
Whereas chronic hepatitis B infections cause 80 percent of all primary liver
cancer cases worldwide;
Whereas 10,000,000 to 30,000,000 people will be infected with the hepatitis B
virus worldwide in 2005;
Whereas approximately 100,000 people in the United States will become infected
with hepatitis B virus this year alone;
Whereas fewer than 10 percent of diagnosed chronic hepatitis B patients in the
United States are currently receiving treatment for their disease;
Whereas healthcare and work loss costs from liver disease and liver cancer-
caused hepatitis B infections total more than $700,000,000 annually;
Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that
1,250,000 Americans are already infected with hepatitis B and nearly
6,000 will die of liver complications each year;
Whereas a person who has become infected with hepatitis B may not have symptoms
for up to 40 years after the initial infection has occurred, and there
is currently no routine screening in place for early detection;
Whereas the CDC has identified African-Americans, Asian-Americans, and Pacific
Islanders, as well as Native Americans and Alaskan Natives, as having
higher rates of hepatitis B infection in the United States;
Whereas Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders account for more than half of the
chronic hepatitis B cases and half of the deaths resulting from chronic
hepatitis B infection in the United States; and
Whereas there is a need for a comprehensive public education and awareness
campaign designed to help infected patients and their physicians
identify and manage the secondary prevention of the disease and to help
increase the length and quality of life for those diagnosed with chronic
hepatitis B: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates the week of May 9, 2005, as ``National
Hepatitis B Awareness Week'';
(2) calls upon the people of the United States to observe
the week with appropriate programs and activities; and
(3) supports raising awareness of the consequences of
untreated chronic hepatitis B and the urgency to seek
appropriate care as a serious public health issue.
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