Senate Resolution No. 897

BY: Senator PARKER

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
Wednesday, March 15, 2017, as Kick Butts 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 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
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim Wednesday, March 15,
2017, as Kick Butts Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with
the Annual National Kick Butts Day, sponsored by Tobacco-Free Kids; and

WHEREAS, According to the New York State Department of Health, every
year smoking kills approximately 25,500 people in New York; secondhand
smoke kills about 2,500 New Yorkers and an estimated 570,000 New Yorkers
are afflicted with serious disease caused by smoking; furthermore, it is
projected 389,000 young people, 0-17, from New York State will die from
smoking; and

WHEREAS, Organized by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Kick Butts
Day is a national day of activism that empowers youth to speak up and
take action against Big Tobacco at more than 1,000 events to be held
from coast to coast; the main focus of this day is on youth and tobacco
use, prevention, tobacco cessation, and reducing exposure to second hand
smoke; and

WHEREAS, On Kick Butts Day, teachers, youth leaders and health
advocates organize events to raise awareness of the problem of tobacco
use in their state or community; and

WHEREAS, The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids is a leading force in
the fight to reduce tobacco use and its deadly toll in the United States
and around the world; the dedicated members of this vital non-profit
organization envision a future free of the death and disease caused by
tobacco; 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 to reduce the deadly toll of
smoking and protect nonsmokers from the clearly-established dangers of
secondhand tobacco smoke; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim Wednesday, March 15,
2017, as Kick Butts Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with
National Kick Butts Day, sponsored by Tobacco-Free Kids; and be it
further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.