LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim November 2015 as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Aware-
ness Month in the State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize official
months 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 November 2015, as Chronic
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Awareness Month in the State of New York;
and
WHEREAS, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a term used
to describe airflow obstruction that is associated mainly with emphysema
and chronic bronchitis; and
WHEREAS, There is indication of COPD being underdiagnosed as an esti-
mated 24 million people have evidence of impaired lung function, and
COPD kills more than 120,000 Americans every year; on average, one
person dies from COPD every four minutes; and
WHEREAS, In 2010, the National Center for Health Statistics released a
report stating in 2008, COPD became the third leading cause of death in
the United States; and
WHEREAS, Pulmonary experts predict that, by the year 2020, COPD will
become the third leading cause of death worldwide; and
WHEREAS, COPD currently accounts for 1.5 million emergency room
visits, 715,000 hospitalizations, and eight million physician office and
hospital outpatient visits, all of which are a detriment to the United
States economy; COPD costs the nation an estimated $49.9 billion in
direct and indirect medical costs annually; and
WHEREAS, Smoking is the primary risk factor for COPD; approximately 85
to 90 percent of COPD deaths are caused by smoking; and
WHEREAS, COPD affects almost 650,000 citizens of the State of New
York; and
WHEREAS, Coordinated community efforts, such as the New York COPD
Coalition, a public-private partnership of individuals and organizations
which created the New York COPD Action Plan, can result in dramatic
improvements to public health and reduced healthcare costs; and
WHEREAS, New York COPD Coalition Members represent the following
organizations: 1199 SEIU Alpha-1 Foundation, American Lung Association
in New York, Burke Rehabilitation Hospital, COPD Foundation, Crouse and
Community General Hospital, Emblem Health, Mount Sinai Medical Center,
MVP Health Care, New York Business Group on Health, New York State
Department of Health, New York State Society of Respiratory Care, New
York Medical College, New York Presbyterian Healthcare System, New York
City Transit Authority, New York Health Plan Association, North
Shore/LIJ Center for Tobacco Control, NYU Medical Center, Rochester
General Hospital, SUNY at Stony Brook, St. Peters Hospital, St. Charles
Hospital, University of Rochester Medical Center, and Visiting Nurse
Service of New York; and
WHEREAS, Research has identified a hereditary protein deficiency
called Alpha-1 Antitrypsin; people with this deficiency tend to develop
COPD, even without exposure to smoking or environmental triggers; and
WHEREAS, There is currently no cure for COPD; spirometry testing and
medical treatments exist to address symptom relief and possibly slow the
progression of the disease; and
WHEREAS, Until there is a cure, the best approaches to preventing COPD
and its considerable health, societal, and mortality impacts lie with

education, awareness, and expanded delivery of detection and management
protocols; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim November 2015, as
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Awareness Month 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.