Senate Resolution No. 4371

BY: Senator COMRIE

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
May 31, 2018, 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 tobacco 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
Organization 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,
infertility 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
significant 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 No Tobacco Day 2018 aims to: highlight the links
between the use of tobacco products and heart and other cardiovascular
diseases; increase awareness within the broader public of the impact
tobacco use and exposure to second-hand smoke have on cardiovascular
health; and

WHEREAS, The focus of World No Tobacco Day 2018 is "Tobacco and
heart disease"; the campaign will increase awareness on the: link
between tobacco and heart and other cardiovascular diseases (CVD),
including stroke, which combined are the world's leading causes of
death; and feasible actions and measures that key audiences, including
governments and the public, can take to reduce the risks to heart health
posed by tobacco; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 31, 2018, 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
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.