Assembly Resolution No. 616

BY: M. of A. Epstein

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
May 31, 2025, as No Tobacco Day in the State of New
York

LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
May 31, 2025, as No Tobacco 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 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, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 31, 2025, as No
Tobacco Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance
of World No Tobacco Day; and

WHEREAS, World No Tobacco Day is observed around the world every
year on May 31st; it is meant to encourage a 24-hour period of
abstinence from all forms of tobacco consumption across the globe; the
day is further intended to draw global attention to the widespread
prevalence of tobacco use and to negative health effects; and

WHEREAS, The Member States of the World Health Organization created
World No Tobacco Day in 1987 to draw global attention to the tobacco
epidemic and the preventable death and disease it causes; and

WHEREAS, Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death
and disease in the United States, killing more than 480,000 Americans
each year; and

WHEREAS, Second-hand smoke is an established cause of lung cancer in
non-smokers, and exposure to second-hand smoke in the home is a
significant cause of respiratory ailments in children, and Sudden Infant
Death Syndrome; and

WHEREAS, The growing e-cig/vaping epidemic has swept the country,
and 45,000 public high school students in NYC reported e-cig/vape
product usage in 2017, which can lead to negative health outcomes; and

WHEREAS, Short-term health risks of tobacco use include shortness of
breath, increased heart rate, exacerbation of asthma, impotence,
infertility and increased blood levels of carbon monoxide; long-term
health risks caused by tobacco use include heart attack, stroke, cancer
and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and

WHEREAS, No Tobacco Day 2025 aims to: highlight the links between
the use of tobacco products and heart and other cardiovascular diseases;
increase awareness within the broader public of the impact tobacco use
and exposure to second-hand smoke have on cardiovascular health; and

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 31, 2025, as World No

Tobacco Day in the State of New York, and to encourage all its citizens
to participate by not starting to smoke, by attempting to stop, and by
encouraging others to do the same; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York and Public Health Solutions Smoke-Free NYC.