LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim April 2012 as Minority Health Month in the State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize official
months that are set aside to increase awareness of issues that affect
the lives of citizens of New York State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, it is the sense of this Legislative Body to memori-
alize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 2012 as Minority Health
Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with National Minority
Health Month; and
WHEREAS, The theme of this year's National Health Month, "Health Equi-
ty Can't Wait. Act Now in Your CommUNITY!" is a call to action and unity
for the regions, the state and local offices of minority health, the
health departments and all the organizations and partners involved and
invested in reducing health disparities; and
WHEREAS, The Office of Minority Health (OMH) was created in 1986 and
is one of the most significant outcomes of the 1985 SECRETARY'S TASK
FORCE REPORT ON BLACK AND MINORITY HEALTH; and
WHEREAS, OMH is dedicated to improving the health of racial and ethnic
minority populations through the development of health policies and
programs that will help eliminate health disparities; and
WHEREAS, When comparing their health indicators against those of the
rest of the United States population, poor health outcomes for African
Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Asian
Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders are apparent; and
WHEREAS, These populations experience higher rates of illness and
death from health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, specific
cancers, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, asthma, hepatitis B, and overweight and
obesity; and
WHEREAS, OMH's primary responsibility is to improve health and health-
care for minority communities by developing or advancing policies,
programs, and practices that address health, social, economic, environ-
mental and other factors which impact health; and
WHEREAS, OMH programs address disease prevention, health promotion,
risk reduction, healthier lifestyle choices, use of health care
services, and barriers to health care; and
WHEREAS, OMH works in partnership with communities and organizations
in the public and private sectors; these collaborations support a
systems approach for eliminating health disparities, national planning
to identify priorities, and coordinated responses through focused initi-
atives; and
WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of
this health issue, and more must be done to increase activity at the
local, State and national levels to improve health and healthcare
outcomes for racial and ethnic minority communities; now, therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 2012 as Minority
Health Month in the State of New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York.