Senate Resolution No. 258

BY: Senator RIVERA

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
November 2019, as Epilepsy Awareness Month in the
State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official months dedicated to raising awareness of serious conditions
impacting the lives of citizens of New York State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim November 2019, as
Epilepsy Awareness Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with
the observance of National Epilepsy Awareness Month; and

WHEREAS, Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by
seizures that consist of sudden and synchronized bursts of electrical
energy that disrupt the brain's normal electrical pattern; it is a
spectrum condition with a wide range of seizure types and control that
varies from person to person; and

WHEREAS, These seizures may impact consciousness, movement or
sensation, and create long-term effects on the lifestyles of individuals
with epilepsy; and

WHEREAS, Approximately one-third of epilepsy patients live with
uncontrolled seizures due to a lack of suitable clinically available
treatment; and

WHEREAS, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates
that epilepsy impacts roughly 3.4 million Americans and 65 million
people worldwide; 1 in 26 people will develop epilepsy and approximately
50,000 people will die from an epilepsy-related cause; and

WHEREAS, Epilepsy affects more people than multiple sclerosis,
cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy and Parkinson's combined; in the
United States, 200,000 new cases of epilepsy are diagnosed each year;
and

WHEREAS, While anyone can develop epilepsy at any age, some common
risk factors include babies who are born small for their age or with
abnormal areas in the brain, babies who have seizures in the first month
of their life, and people with serious brain injury or lack of oxygen to
the brain, brain tumors, infections of the brain, cerebral palsy, family
history of seizures, Alzheimer's disease (late in the illness), Autism
spectrum disorder, use of cocaine, or strokes resulting from the
blockage of arteries; and

WHEREAS, In the United States, Epilepsy affects more than 300,000
children under the age of 15, more than 90,000 of whom have seizures
that cannot be adequately treated; and

WHEREAS, More than 570,000 adults age 65 and older have the
condition, as the number of epilepsy cases in the elderly is increasing
with the baby boom generation reaching retirement age; and

WHEREAS, It costs the United States approximately $15.5 billion each
year in caring for and treating epilepsy; and

WHEREAS, While medications and other treatments help many people of
all ages who live with epilepsy, more than a million people continue to
have seizures that can severely limit their school achievements,
employment prospects and participation in all of life's experiences; and

WHEREAS, Even with the roughly 150,000 new cases of epilepsy in the
United States each year, epilepsy continues to be one of least
understood major chronic medical conditions; thus, it is the hope that a
month of awareness in New York State and beyond will make for greater
public awareness and increase the activity at the local, state and
national level; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim November 2019, as
Epilepsy Awareness Month in the State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York; and the Epilepsy Foundation.