LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim June 15-21, 2015, as Men's Health Week in the State of New
York, in conjunction with the observance of National Men's Health Week

WHEREAS, June 15-21, 2015, marks the 21st year for National Men's Health
Week, which its sole purpose is to heighten the awareness of preventable
health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease
among men and boys; and
WHEREAS, As we prepare to celebrate Father's Day and recognize the
important men in our lives, it is critical that we bring attention to
the unique health concerns that many men are faced with; on the average
a man's life expectancy is almost six years less than that of a woman;
we need to give particular emphasis to the importance of public aware-
ness and education so we can improve the life expectancy of our men in
the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, National Men's Health Week was established by Congress in
1994 and urges men and their families to engage in appropriate health
behaviors; the resulting increased awareness has improved health-related
education and has helped prevent illness; and
WHEREAS, The shift to prevention requires not only changes in the
health care system, but also an awareness by the American public of the
importance of regular visits to their physicians; and
WHEREAS, Recognizing and preventing men's health problems is not just
a man's issue; because of its impact on wives, mothers, daughters, and
sisters, men's health is truly a family issue; and
WHEREAS, Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, afflicting
one out of every seven American men and killing 34,000 men every year;
for African-American men, the rate of affliction is even worse; Afri-
can-American men are 56% more likely to develop prostate cancer compared
with Caucasian men and nearly 2.5 times as likely to die from the
disease; in the past five years, the death rate for prostate cancer has
grown at almost twice the death rate of breast cancer; and
WHEREAS, Prostate cancer and many other health problems affecting men
could be avoided if men's awareness of health screening tests were
increased; heightening the awareness of preventable health problems and
increasing early detection and treatment of disease would significantly
improve our Nation's health, as well as save limited health care
dollars; and
WHEREAS, Women visit the doctor 150 percent as often as men, enabling
them to detect health problems in their early stages; and
WHEREAS, Significant numbers of male related health problems such as
prostate cancer, testicular cancer, infertility, and colon cancer, could
be detected and treated if men's awareness of these problems was more
pervasive; and
WHEREAS, Educating both the public and health care providers about the
importance of early detection of male health problems will result in
reducing rates of mortality for these diseases; and
WHEREAS, Appropriate use of tests such as Prostate Specific Antigen
(PSA) exams, blood pressure screens, cholesterol screens, etc., in
conjunction with clinical examination and self-testing for problems such
as testicular cancer can result in the detection of many of these prob-
lems in their early stages and increases the survival rates to nearly
100 percent; and
WHEREAS, Many men are reluctant to visit their health center or physi-
cian for regular screening examinations of male related problems for a
variety of reasons including fear, lack of information, and cost
factors; and

WHEREAS, Men who are educated about the value that preventative health
can play in prolonging their lifespan and their role as a productive
family member will be more likely to participate in health screenings;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim June 15-21, 2015, as
Men's Health Week in the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Men's Health Week; 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.