LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim May 12-18, 2014, as Women's Lung Health Week in the State of
New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize official
weeks 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, this Legislative Body is justly proud to memorial-
ize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 12-18, 2014, as Women's
Lung Health Week in the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Women's Lung Health Week celebrates and honors the power of
women who stand united to fight lung cancer; and
WHEREAS, Lung Cancer is the number one killer of women; more women die
of lung cancer than any other cancer; and
WHEREAS, An estimated 70,000 women lost their lives to lung cancer in
2013; and
WHEREAS, Tobacco use and exposure account for 98% of lung cancer;
lifestyle related behaviors are also linked to increased risk of a
cancer diagnosis; and
WHEREAS, Asthma rates among women rose 97% compared to a 22% increase
in men over a 14 year period; and
WHEREAS, Chronic pulmonary disease (COPD) currently accounts for 1.5
million emergency room visits, 71,500 hospitalizations, and eight
million physician office and hospital outpatient visits annually; women
are 37% more likely to have COPD than men; and
WHEREAS, Women may also suffer from a host of other lung ailments
including: pulmonary emboli, blood clots which travel to the lungs from
other parts of the body; pulmonary hypertension, high blood pressure in
the arteries which bring blood to the lungs; sarcoidosis and pulmonary
fibrosis, inflammatory diseases which cause stiffening and scarring in
the lungs; LAM (lymphangioleiomyomatosis), a rare lung disease that
mostly affects women in their mid-30s and 40s; and influenza (the flu)
and pneumonia, respiratory infections caused by a virus which can damage
the lungs; and
WHEREAS, Access to adequate health care has a significant impact on a
woman's chance of surviving cancer; 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; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 12-18, 2014, as
Women's Lung Health 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.