LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim Tuesday, April 8, 2014, as Healthy Schools Day in the State of
New York, and to further proclaim April 7 - 11, 2014, as School Building
Week in the State of New York

WHEREAS, Children spend up to half of their daytime in schools and their
environs; and
WHEREAS, Schools have the potential to expose children to a broad
array of hazards, including air and drinking water contaminants, toxic
substances in the soil, synthetic turf and other media, lead-based
paints, pesticides and other toxins within and outside of schools, asth-
ma-causing pollutants, molds, radon and asbestos; and
WHEREAS, Children may also be exposed to toxic contaminants when
schools are sited near environmental hazards such as hazardous waste
disposal sites, or when schools are renovated or expanded; and
WHEREAS, Environmental contaminants can affect children quite differ-
ently than adults due to children may be more highly exposed to contam-
inants and may also be more vulnerable to the toxic effects of contam-
inants; in addition, environmental contaminants can affect children
disproportionately because their immune defenses are not fully developed
and their growing organs are more easily harmed; and
WHEREAS, Children eat more food, drink more water, and breathe more
air relative to their size than adults do, and consequently, may be
exposed to relatively higher amounts of contaminants; and
WHEREAS, Children's normal activities, such as putting their hands in
their mouths or playing on the ground, can result in exposure to contam-
ination that adults do not face; and
WHEREAS, There has been a significant rise in the incidence of child-
hood asthma, learning disabilities and cancer, which may have a corre-
lation to the environmental conditions in our schools; and
WHEREAS, Healthy schools are designed to reduce energy and maintenance
costs while providing cleaner air, improved lighting, reduced exposures
to toxic substances, materials and supplies, thereby providing a heal-
thier and safer learning environment for children, fostering achievement
and well-being; and
WHEREAS, The purpose of School Building Week is to celebrate and high-
light high-performing, healthy, safe and sustainable schools facilities;
and
WHEREAS, As centers of the community, our schools are the building
blocks of our communities and the keystone of our future; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body has been a consistent and powerful
advocate for the protection of our children in the school environment;
and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body believes children in schools should be
afforded the same protections as school personnel in their workplace;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim Tuesday, April 8, 2014,
as Healthy Schools Day in the State of New York, and to further proclaim
April 7 - 11, 2014, as School Building Week 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.