LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim May 31, 2015, as World No Tobacco Day in the State of New York

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 tobac-
co use and to negative health effects, which currently lead to 5.4
million deaths worldwide annually; and
WHEREAS, World No Tobacco Day is sponsored by the World Health Organ-
ization to call worldwide attention to the impact of tobacco use on the
public health and has been observed annually since 1988 throughout the
world; and
WHEREAS, The World Health Organization estimates that there are more
than 1.1 billion smokers in the world, about one-third of the global
population aged 15 years and older; and
WHEREAS, Short-term health risks of tobacco use include shortness of
breath, increased heart rate, exacerbation of asthma, impotence, infer-
tility 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, Second-hand smoke is an established cause of lung cancer in
non-smokers, and exposure to second-hand smoke in the home is a signif-
icant cause of respiratory ailments in children, and Sudden Infant Death
Syndrome; and
WHEREAS, As of 1991, over 90 percent of the United States population,
regardless of smoking status, had measurable amounts of a by-product of
cigarette smoke in their bodies -- indicating the exposure to second-
hand smoke was massive; significant progress has been made since then in
reducing these exposures, primarily through State and local regulations
and voluntary policy changes by employers; and
WHEREAS, World Tobacco Day 2015 is calling on countries to work
together to end the illicit trade of tobacco products; from many angles,
the illicit trade of tobacco products is a major global concern, includ-
ing health, legal and economic, governance and corruption; and
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 31, 2015, as World
No Tobacco Day in the State of New York, and to encourage all of 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 tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York.