LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring the life and work of Susan M. Cohen,
breast cancer survivor, nationally recognized breast cancer activist,
and founding chairperson of the New York State Breast Cancer Network

WHEREAS, Susan M. Cohen devoted her life to giving voice to those who
were not being heard; and
WHEREAS, Susan M. Cohen worked for decades as a community organizer
and housing lawyer for low-income New Yorkers; and
WHEREAS, When diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993, Susan M. Cohen
took her well-honed skills as a community organizer to the burgeoning
breast cancer movement; and
WHEREAS, Susan M. Cohen quickly became well-versed in current medical
research and public policy issues affecting New Yorkers with breast
cancer; and
WHEREAS, Susan M. Cohen's expertise in breast cancer was recognized
both statewide and nationally and she was invited to serve on many
research review panels over the next seventeen years, working hand-in-
hand with medical researchers to address access to quality care, envi-
ronmental issues related to breast cancer, survivor support services,
and improved treatment options; and
WHEREAS, In 1998, Susan M. Cohen joined together with a few other
breast cancer activists from across New York State to form the New York
State Breast Cancer Network, the first and only statewide network of
community-based, survivor-driven breast cancer organizations in the
country; and
WHEREAS, Under the thoughtful and skilled leadership of Susan M. Cohen
as its Chair, the New York State Breast Cancer Network has educated New
York State legislators and leaders about the important issues affecting
the breast cancer community; and
WHEREAS, Under the thoughtful and skilled leadership of Susan M.
Cohen, the New York State Breast Cancer Network has played a pivotal
role in getting important breast cancer-related legislation passed into
law, such as the breast cancer survivors' support initiative, putting
breast cancer survivors on the New York State Health Research Science
Board as voting members, the restricting of bisphenol A (BPA) in chil-
dren's products, and many others; and
WHEREAS, Under the leadership of Susan M. Cohen, the New York State
Breast Cancer Network has also held an education and advocacy day in
Albany every year since 1999; and
WHEREAS, This annual education and advocacy day has been heretofore
renamed the New York State Breast Cancer Network's Susan M. Cohen Educa-
tion and Advocacy Day; and
WHEREAS, This year's New York State Breast Cancer Network's Susan M.
Cohen Education and Advocacy Day will be held Tuesday, March 15, 2011;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor the life and work of Susan M. Cohen, and all she contributed to
the breast cancer community and to New York State, and to recognize this
year's New York State Breast Cancer Network's Susan M. Cohen Education
and Advocacy Day on March 15, 2011; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the New York State Breast Cancer Network.