# National Asbestos Awareness Week

This resolution sets aside the first week of April 2023 as "National Asbestos Awareness Week" across the United States. It's essentially Congress officially designating a specific week to draw attention to asbestos and the health dangers it poses.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was widely used in building materials, insulation, and countless other products throughout the 20th century. The problem is that when asbestos fibers get into the air and people breathe them in, they can cause serious lung diseases, including mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer. Many people who were exposed to asbestos decades ago—construction workers, military veterans, factory workers, and others—are still developing these diseases today.

This resolution doesn't create any new laws or regulations, and it doesn't provide funding or require any specific actions. Instead, it's a symbolic gesture meant to encourage awareness and education about asbestos hazards. During that designated week, organizations, health agencies, schools, and communities might use it as an opportunity to educate people about the dangers of asbestos, help those who may have been exposed understand their risks, and promote testing and prevention efforts. It's the kind of resolution Congress passes to highlight important public health issues and encourage Americans to pay attention to a particular topic.

A resolution designating the first week of April 2023 as "National Asbestos Awareness Week".

Tester, Jon

 <p>This resolution designates the first week of April as National Asbestos Awareness Week.</p> <p>It also urges the Surgeon General to warn and educate people about asbestos exposure, which may be hazardous to their health.</p>