LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim Wednesday, March 20, 2013, as Kick Butts Day in the State of
New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize official
days that are set aside to increase awareness of serious 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 Wednesday, March 20, 2013, as
Kick Butts Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the 18th
Annual National Kick Butts Day, sponsored by Tobacco Free Kids; and
WHEREAS, According to the New York State Department of Health, every
year smoking kills approximately 25,500 people in New York; secondhand
smoke kills about 2,500 New Yorkers and an estimated 570,000 New Yorkers
are afflicted with serious disease caused by smoking; furthermore, it is
projected 389,000 young people, 0-17, from New York State will die from
smoking; and
WHEREAS, Kick Butts Day is a national day of activism that empowers
youth to speak up and take action against Big Tobacco at more than 1,000
events to be held from coast to coast; the main focus of this day is on
youth and tobacco use, prevention, tobacco cessation, and reducing expo-
sure to second-hand smoke; and
WHEREAS, Bronx BREATHES, the Bronx County Tobacco Cessation Center
serving the residents of the Bronx, New York, is a proud supporter of
Kick Butts Day; this vital organization provides training and technical
assistance to health care institutions in the Bronx to better identify
and provide support to smokers willing to quit; it also provides commu-
nity education to increase awareness of the New York State Smokers'
Quitline; and
WHEREAS, Once again, Bronx BREATHES will be collaborating with organ-
izations such as Montefiore Medical Center, Jack D. Weiler Hospital,
Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Comprehensive Health Care Center,
Comprehensive Family Care Center, and Family Health Center; together,
they will feature Kick Butts activities across the Bronx; and
WHEREAS, In addition, many organizations will be participating in
National Kick Butts Day 2013, some of which include: Hostos Community
College, Bronx Smoke-Free Partnership, New York City Coalition for a
Smoke-Free City, The American Heart Association, The American Cancer
Society, and the American Lung Association of New York; and
WHEREAS, Throughout this day, Tobacco Cessation programs will be held
at numerous locations throughout the community; these classes will pres-
ent valuable information, as well as Nicotine Patches, Nicotine Gum, and
Literature to community members who are interested in quitting smoking;
and
WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of
this serious health issue, and more must be done to increase activity at
the local, State and national levels to reduce the deadly toll of smok-
ing and protect nonsmokers from the clearly-established dangers of
secondhand tobacco smoke; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim Wednesday, March 20,
2013, as Kick Butts Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with
National Kick Butts Day, sponsored by Tobacco Free Kids; 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.