Whereas dangerous asbestos fibers are invisible and cannot be smelled or tasted; Whereas the inhalation of airborne asbestos fibers can cause significant damage; Whereas asbestos fibers can cause cancer (such as mesothelioma), asbestosis, and other health problems; Whereas symptoms of asbestos-related diseases can take between 10 and 50 years to present themselves; Whereas the projected life expectancy for an individual diagnosed with mesothelioma is between 6 and 24 months; Whereas generally, little is known about late-stage treatment of asbestos-related diseases, and there is no cure for those diseases; Whereas early detection of asbestos-related diseases may give some patients increased treatment options and might improve the prognoses of those patients; Whereas while the consumption of asbestos within the United States has been substantially reduced, the United States continues to consume tons of the fibrous mineral each year for use in certain products throughout the United States; Whereas asbestos-related diseases have killed thousands of people in the United States; Whereas while exposure to asbestos continues, safety and prevention of asbestos exposure already has significantly reduced the incidence of asbestos-related diseases and can further reduce the incidence of those diseases; Whereas thousands of workers in the United States face significant asbestos exposure, which has been a cause of occupational cancer; Whereas thousands of people in the United States die from asbestos-related diseases every year; Whereas a significant percentage of all asbestos-related disease victims were exposed to asbestos on naval ships and in shipyards; Whereas asbestos was used in the construction of a significant number of office buildings and public facilities built before 1975; Whereas people in the small community of Libby, Montana, suffer from asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma, at a significantly higher rate than people in the United States as a whole