House resolution NO. 2
By Request of the ****
A resolution of the House
of Representatives of the state of montana to recognize and support the center
for asbestos related disease, also known as the
card clinic.
WHEREAS, dangerous asbestos fibers are invisible
and cannot be smelled or tasted; and
WHEREAS, the inhalation of airborne asbestos
fibers can cause significant damage; and
WHEREAS, asbestos fibers can cause cancer, including
lung cancer, mesothelioma, asbestosis, pleural diseases, and other health
problems; and
WHEREAS, symptoms of asbestos-related diseases
can take between 10 and 50 years to present themselves; and
WHEREAS, little is known about late-stage
treatment of asbestos-related diseases, and there is no cure for those
diseases; and
WHEREAS, early detection of asbestos-related
diseases may give some patients increased treatment options and may improve the
prognoses of those patients; and
WHEREAS, although the use of asbestos within the
United States has been substantially reduced, the United States continues to import
tons of the fibrous mineral each year for use in certain products; and
WHEREAS, thousands of people in the United States
have died from asbestos-related diseases and thousands more die every year from
those diseases; and
WHEREAS, although individuals continue to be
exposed to asbestos, safety measures relating to the prevention of asbestos
exposure have significantly reduced the incidence of asbestos-related diseases
and can further reduce the incidence of those diseases; and
WHEREAS, thousands of workers in the United
States face significant asbestos exposure, which has been a cause of
occupational cancer; and
WHEREAS, a significant percentage of victims of
asbestos-related diseases were exposed to asbestos on naval ships and in
shipyards; and
WHEREAS, asbestos was used in the construction of
a significant number of office buildings and public facilities built before
1975; and
WHEREAS,
legacy asbestos remains a hazard due to vermiculite insulation still found in
millions of homes and commercial buildings; and
WHEREAS,
people in the small community of Libby, Montana, suffer from asbestos-related cancers
and nonmalignant lung diseases, including lung cancer and mesothelioma, at a
significantly higher rate than individuals in the United States as a whole; and
WHEREAS,
naturally occurring asbestiform fibers, similar to Libby amphibole, are found
throughout the United States; and
WHEREAS, the Center for Asbestos Related Disease is
the nation's only dedicated diagnostic treatment facility for illness related
to asbestos; and
WHEREAS, the scientific and medical expertise
gained at the Center for Asbestos Related Disease, also known as the CARD
Clinic, serves as a core asset for those suffering from asbestos-related
diseases across the state of Montana and the nation.
Now, therefore, be it resolved by the House of
Representatives OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
The Center for Asbestos Related Disease is designated as a Center of Excellence in
Montana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Secretary of State send
a copy of this resolution to the Center for Asbestos Related Disease (CARD Clinic).
INTRODUCED
BY S. Gunderson