Congress passes bill recognizing National Mesothelioma Awareness Day

In November 2010, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution (H. Res. 771 [PDF]) declaring September 26th as National Mesothelioma Awareness Day. The House resolution is the counterpart to the Senate’s National Mesothelioma Awareness Day resolution (S. Res. 288 [PDF]), which was passed in 2009.

The House resolution calls on the President to “issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States, Federal departments and agencies, States, localities, organizations, and media to annually observe a National Mesothelioma Awareness Day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.”

Introduced into the House by Minnesota Congresswoman Betty McCollum, the newly-passed resolution was inspired by the story of Congressman Bruce Vento, a friend of Rep. McCollum’s. Rep. Vento died of mesothelioma in 2009 only nine months after he was diagnosed with the disease.

In announcing the bill’s passage, Rep. McCollum recalled the story of her friend and hoped that the resolution would help to spread awareness of the terrible costs of mesothelioma and asbestos:“In 2000, my friend and predecessor Congressman Bruce Vento was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma. Despite decades of warnings about the dangers of asbestos, too many Americans are still unaware of the devastating nature of this disease.”The passage of the House and Senate resolutions represents an important step in highlighting the debilitating effect that these diseases have had on American workers and their families. Hissey Kientz, LLP would like to join in commending Rep. McCollum and the countless others who have worked to spread awareness of mesothelioma cancer and other asbestos diseasesIntroduced into the House by Minnesota Congresswoman Betty McCollum, the newly-passed resolution was inspired by the story of Congressman Bruce Vento, a friend of Rep. McCollum’s. Rep. Vento died of mesothelioma in 2009 only nine months after he was diagnosed with the disease.

In announcing the bill’s passage, Rep. McCollum recalled the story of her friend and hoped that the resolution would help to spread awareness of the terrible costs of mesothelioma and asbestos:

In 2000, my friend and predecessor Congressman Bruce Vento was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma. Despite decades of warnings about the dangers of asbestos, too many Americans are still unaware of the devastating nature of this disease.

The passage of the House and Senate resolutions represents an important step in highlighting the debilitating effect that these diseases have had on American workers and their families. Hissey Kientz, LLP would like to join in commending Rep. McCollum and the countless others who have worked to spread awareness of mesothelioma cancer and other asbestos diseases.

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