LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Kathy Bates for her outstanding advoca-
cy, support, and fundraising efforts for lymphedema awareness

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that the quality and
character of life in the communities across New York State are reflec-
tive of the concerned and dedicated efforts of organizations and indi-
viduals committed to helping to improve the lives of others; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing tradition, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Kathy
Bates for her outstanding advocacy, support, and fundraising efforts for
lymphedema awareness, in conjunction with the observance of National
Lymphedema Awareness Day on March 6, 2015; and
WHEREAS, Kathy Bates, an Academy Award-winning, Emmy Award-winning and
Tony nominated actress, has used her celebrity status to promote lymp-
hedema awareness; and
WHEREAS, Having developed lymphedema in both arms, following a double
mastectomy, Kathy Bates now serves as Honorary Board Chairperson of the
Lymphatic Education & Research Network, also known as LE&RN; and
WHEREAS, As the first celebrity to come forward with this disease,
Kathy Bates initiated The Face of Lymphedema Challenge to the mass of
supporters attending LE&RN's 2014 Walk for Lymphedema and Lymphatic
Diseases across the Brooklyn Bridge; and
WHEREAS, Kathy Bates has empowered others with this disease to follow
her example and publicly come forward to say they too have lymphedema;
and
WHEREAS, National Lymphedema Awareness Day brings awareness to this
often debilitating condition and helps find strength through collective
celebration, and is also set aside to honor inspirational lymphedema
patients and advocates; and
WHEREAS, Kathy Bates has broken the silence among lymphedema sufferers
and brought this disease to a statewide and national audience by becom-
ing a lymphedema spokesperson without regard for professional career
concerns; and
WHEREAS, Kathy Bates has dedicated herself to lymphedema awareness by
chairing LE&RN's Honorary Board and by soliciting the support of others
to use their celebrity to further lymphatic and lymphedema research and
awareness; and
WHEREAS, Kathy Bates has committed herself to making lymphedema her
cause on nationally televised broadcasts, such as her recent appearance
on "The Doctors", which is bringing unprecedented awareness to the
disease; and
WHEREAS, Kathy Bates has made New York-based Lymphatic Education &
Research Network her charity of choice to benefit from these nationally
broadcast television appearances; and
WHEREAS, Kathy Bates continues to seek ways to champion the needs of
the lymphedema community, which suffers a shortage of certified thera-
pists and lacks sufficient insurance coverage for even basic lymphedema
treatment options; and
WHEREAS, Kathy Bates has dedicated herself to continuing her staunch
lymphedema advocacy as a life-long commitment; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown a
long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned the
recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State;
now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Kathy Bates for her outstanding advocacy and promotion of lymp-
hedema awareness; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Kathy Bates, and to the Lymphatic Education & Research
Network.