Senate Resolution No. 2684

BY: Senator RIVERA

RECOGNIZING May 5, 2020, as World Asthma Day

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official months and days that are set aside to increase awareness of
serious health conditions that affect the lives of citizens of New York
State; and

WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to recognize May
5, 2020, as World Asthma Day; and

WHEREAS, Asthma is a common chronic disease that affects people of
all ages in all parts of the world; it is a cause of substantial burden
of disease, including both premature death and reduced quality of life
in people of all ages; and

WHEREAS, A potentially deadly disease, Asthma causes swelling of the
airways which results in narrowing of the airways that carry air from
the nose and mouth to the lungs; allergens or irritating things entering
the lungs trigger Asthma symptoms, including trouble breathing,
wheezing, coughing and tightness in the chest; and

WHEREAS, Globally, Asthma is marked 16th among the leading causes of
years lived with disability, and 28th among the leading causes of burden
of disease; and

WHEREAS, Asthma affects an estimated 339 million people worldwide;
according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), approximately 1 in
13 people have Asthma; and

WHEREAS, More than 25 million Americans have Asthma; this is
approximately 7.7% of adults and 8.4% of children; Asthma rates have
continued to increase since the 1980s, in all age, sex and racial
groups; it is more common in adult women than adult men, and is the
leading chronic disease in children; and

WHEREAS, Currently, there are 6.2 million children under the age of
18 with Asthma; in 2017, 1 in 12 children had the disease; and

WHEREAS, According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are
over a million New Yorkers suffering from Asthma, a rate higher than
those of states like California, Florida and Texas which have larger
populations; and

WHEREAS, The United States Environmental Protection Agency released
information classifying New York as the state with the dirtiest air in
the nation; yet school districts and municipal transportation systems
continue to use diesel-fuel burning vehicles that exacerbate the
situation by increasing pollution levels; and

WHEREAS, With over 50,000 school buses transporting over two million
school-age children daily throughout the State, it is easy to see how
such decisions in aggregate are part of the negligence and neglect that
negatively impacts all our lives; and


WHEREAS, Given that children often ride the school bus every day for
many years, this type of exposure accumulates, translating into an
unacceptably high risk of developing cancer and respiratory diseases
later in life; and

WHEREAS, Asthma is the leading cause of school absenteeism due to
chronic illness and is the second most significant respiratory condition
as a cause of home confinement for adults; each year, Asthma causes more
than 18 million days of restricted activity, and millions of visits to
physicians' offices and emergency rooms; and

WHEREAS, The documented increases in air pollution in New York City
combined with the proximity of school buildings to diesel-fuel burning
bus depots, major highways, waste transfer stations and industrial parks
are increasing the levels of Asthma to epidemic proportions; and

WHEREAS, It is understood that we cannot immediately remove all the
causes of air pollution from around our schools and communities, but we
can still reduce the impact of this disease on children by lowering
their exposure to illness causes and disease aggravating pollutants such
as diesel-fuel burning buses and their toxic emissions; and

WHEREAS, The Asthma epidemic facing our communities in New York
State and around the world is a health care issue that can no longer be
ignored; it is imperative that we focus on this matter, especially with
its disproportionate impact on minorities, children, and the
impoverished; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
recognize May 5, 2020, as World Asthma Day; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the American Lung Association.