Assembly Resolution No. 862

BY: M. of A. Gunther

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
February 14, 2024, as A Day for Hearts: Congenital
Heart Defect Awareness Day in the State of New York

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to memorialize
Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim February 14, 2024, as A Day for
Hearts: Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day in the State of New York,
in conjunction with Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week, February
7-14, 2023, an annual awareness effort that helps educate the public
about Congenital Heart Defects; and

WHEREAS, Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) are those existing at birth;
about 40,000 children born have some kind of defect of the heart, and
about 1.8 million families in the United States are affected by CHD; and

WHEREAS, With familiarity of the disorder, more diagnoses are being
made of what was not long ago thought to be an extremely rare disorder
and not repairable; and

WHEREAS, CHD is among the most common birth defects, about nine out
of every 1,000 infants born each year have a defect of the heart, and is
the leading cause of defect-related deaths; and

WHEREAS, Many children born with CHDs continue to die due to the
severity of the defect, the heart defect not being detected in time, a
lack of donor hearts, or failure of the use of medical intervention; and

WHEREAS, CHD is being researched by numerous professionals, at least
35 defects are now recognized, in order to more accurately describe its
origin, physical signs and symptoms and surgical options; however, the
amount of funding for education, research, and support is small; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of
this serious health issue so that early diagnosis and intervention
become a top priority, and more must be done to increase activity at the
local, State and national levels to support and protect our youth, our
most precious resource, as well as their families; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim February 14, 2024, as A
Day for Hearts: Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day in the State of
New York; 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.