Updated on February 23, 2024

The History of Global Asbestos Awareness Week, observed from April 1-7, encapsulated by the motto “One Word. One Week. One World,” highlights the global crusade against asbestos exposure, a universally acknowledged carcinogen with no safe level of exposure. Established in 2004, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) has been at the forefront of combating asbestos, debunking prevalent myths, advancing education, and advocating for policy reforms. This relentless pursuit has positioned ADAO as a dominant force in the realm of asbestos prevention and policy advocacy worldwide. The evolution from a singular day of awareness to the annual Global Asbestos Awareness Week, represents a monumental leap in global consciousness, educating thousands about the perils of asbestos.

The initiative saw a significant enhancement in 2007, thanks to the support of U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who advocated for the extension to a week-long observance and urged the U.S. Surgeon General to issue a formal asbestos warning, solidifying the campaign’s worldwide significance. Another pivotal moment came in 2009 when Mavis Nye proposed the idea of dedicating a week to asbestos awareness in the UK, sparking the transformation of the campaign from a national initiative into a global phenomenon. This expansion enabled ADAO to offer an entire week of rich content, foster international collaborations, and make informational materials available in six languages. The campaign has not only heightened awareness but has also galvanized efforts toward banning asbestos, buoyed by legislative support and international partnerships. Despite achieving annual National Resolutions, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 posed significant challenges, highlighting the potential hurdles in advocacy work.

ADAO’s commitment to partnership for prevention has garnered crucial recognitions and spurred regulatory actions against asbestos, underscoring the vital role of community, education, and advocacy in combating exposure. Most materials are translated into seven different languages (French, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Ukrainian) to ensure this important information is shared with people around the world. The week culminates on April 7th with a virtual worldwide candlelight vigil. Included below are the legislative texts of resolutions, a roster of Senate champions, and the Surgeons General’s warnings, all of which underscore the united endeavor to eradicate asbestos exposure.

We at ADAO know very well that we cannot succeed alone. We are depending on our community to be innovative, bold, and outspoken to make the 2024 Global Asbestos Awareness Week the loudest call to action yet! Save the date and watch for updates from ADAO and your local leaders, about the week, contributors, and content. Be sure to follow the conversation with our GAAW hashtag: #2024GAAW.

Together, we make change happen.

Linda Reinstein

ADAO’s Social Networks

U.S  Surgeon General Warning Statements

 

S.Res.149 – A resolution designating the first week of April 2023 as “National Asbestos Awareness Week” 118th Congress
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT] | 
Cosponsors: 
Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]* 03/30/2023
Sen. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE]* 03/30/2023
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]* 03/30/2023
Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]* 03/30/2023
Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]* 03/30/2023
Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]* 03/30/2023
Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]* 03/30/2023

S.Res.561 – A resolution designating the first week of April 2022 as “National Asbestos Awareness Week” 117th Congress
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Cosponsors:
Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]* 03/29/2022
Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]* 03/29/2022
Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]* 03/29/2022
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]* 03/29/2022
Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]* 03/29/2022
Sen. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE]* 03/29/2022

S.Res.145 – A resolution designating the first week of April 2021 as “National Asbestos Awareness Week” 117th Congress
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]
Cosponsors:
Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]* 03/25/2021
Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]* 03/25/2021
Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]*  03/25/2021
Sen. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE]* 03/25/2021
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]* 03/25/2021

S.Res.92 – A resolution designating the first week of April 2019 as “National Asbestos Awareness Week” 116th Congress
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT] | 
Cosponsors:
Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]* 03/04/2019
Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]* 03/04/2019
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]* 03/04/2019
Sen. Harris, Kamala D. [D-CA]* 03/04/2019
Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]* 03/04/2019
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]* 03/04/2019
Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]* 03/04/2019
Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]* 03/04/2019
Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]* 03/04/2019
Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]* 03/04/2019
Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]* 03/04/2019
Sen. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE]* 03/04/2019
Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]* 03/04/2019

S.Res.98 – A resolution designating the first week of April 2017 as “National Asbestos Awareness Week” 115th Congress
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT] |
Cosponsors:
Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]* 03/27/2017
Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]* 03/27/2017
Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]* 03/27/2017
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]* 03/27/2017
Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]*  03/27/2017
Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]* 03/27/2017
Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]* 03/27/2017
Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]* 03/27/2017

S.Res.449 – A resolution designating the first week of April 2018 as “National Asbestos Awareness Week” 115th Congress
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT] |
Cosponsors:
Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]* 03/22/2018
Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD]* 03/22/2018
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]* 03/22/2018
Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]* 03/22/2018
Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI]* 03/22/2018
Sen. Harris, Kamala D. [D-CA]* 03/22/2018
Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]* 03/22/2018
Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]* 03/22/2018
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]* 03/22/2018
Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]* 03/22/2018
Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]* 03/22/2018
Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]* 03/22/2018

​​S.Res.376 – A resolution designating the first week of April 2016 as “National Asbestos Awareness Week” 114th Congress 
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] |
Cosponsors: 
Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]* 02/25/2016
Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]* 02/25/2016
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]* 02/25/2016
Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]* 02/25/2016
Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]* 02/25/2016
Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]*  02/25/2016
Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]* 02/25/2016
Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]* 02/25/2016
Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]* 02/25/2016
Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]* 02/25/2016
Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]* 02/25/2016
Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]* 02/25/2016

S.Res.376 – A resolution designating the first week of April 2016 as “National Asbestos Awareness Week” 114th Congress
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] 
Cosponsors: 
Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]* 02/25/2016
Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]* 02/25/2016
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]* 02/25/2016
Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]* 02/25/2016
Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]* 02/25/2016
Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]*  02/25/2016
Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]* 02/25/2016
Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]* 02/25/2016
Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]* 02/25/2016
Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]* 02/25/2016
Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]* 02/25/2016
Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]* 02/25/2016

S.Res.63 – A resolution designating the first week of April 2011 as “National Asbestos Awareness Week” 112th Congress
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT] |
Cosponsors: 
Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]* 02/17/2011
Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]* 02/17/2011
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]* 02/17/2011
Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]* 02/17/2011
Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]* 02/17/2011
Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]* 02/17/2011
Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]* 02/17/2011

S.Res.389 – A resolution designating the first week of April 2012 as “National Asbestos Awareness Week” 112th Congress
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT] |
Cosponsors: 
Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]* 03/06/2012
Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]* 03/06/2012
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]* 03/06/2012
Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]* 03/06/2012
Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]* 03/06/2012
Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]* 03/06/2012
Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]* 

S.Res.57 – A resolution designating the first week of April 2009 as “National Asbestos Awareness Week” 111th Congress
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT] |
Cosponsors:
Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]* 02/26/2009
Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]* 02/26/2009
Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]* 02/26/2009
Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA]* 02/26/2009
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]* 02/26/2009
Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]* 02/26/2009
Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]* 02/26/2009
Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]* 02/26/2009
Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA] 03/03/2009

S.Res.427 – A resolution designating the first week of April 2010 as “National Asbestos Awareness Week” 111th Congress
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT] |
Cosponsors: 
Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]* 03/01/2010
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]* 03/01/2010
Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]* 03/01/2010
Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]* 03/01/2010
Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]* 03/01/2010
Sen. Boxer, Barbara [D-CA]* 03/01/2010
Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]* 03/01/2010
Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]* 03/01/2010

S.Res.462 – A resolution designating the first week of April 2008 as “National Asbestos Awareness Week” 110th Congress
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT] |
Cosponsors:
Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]* 02/27/2008
Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]* 02/27/2008
Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]* 02/27/2008
Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]* 02/27/2008
Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]* 02/27/2008
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]* 02/27/2008
Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]* 02/27/2008
Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA]* 02/27/2008

S.Res.131 – A resolution designating the first week of April 2007 as “National Asbestos Awareness Week” 110th Congress
Sponsor: Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT] |
Cosponsors: 
Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV]* 03/28/2007
Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA]* 03/28/2007
Sen. Feinstein, Dianne [D-CA]* 03/28/2007
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]* 03/28/2007
Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]* 03/28/2007
Sen. Leahy, Patrick J. [D-VT]* 03/28/2007
Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT]* 03/28/2007

S.Res.402 – A resolution designating the first day of April, 2006, as “National Asbestos Awareness Day” 109th Congress
Sponsor: Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV] 

S.Res.43 – A resolution designating the first day of April 2005 as “National Asbestos Awareness Day” 109th Congress
Sponsor: Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV] |
Cosponsor:
Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA] 03/07/2005