K 616: Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 31, 2025, as No Tobacco Day in the State of New York

 Assembly Resolution No. 616 BY: M. of A. Epstein MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 31, 2025, as No Tobacco Day in the State of New York LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 31, 2025, as No Tobacco Day in the State of New York WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize official days that are set aside to increase awareness of issues that affect 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 Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 31, 2025, as No Tobacco Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of World No Tobacco Day; and 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; and WHEREAS, The Member States of the World Health Organization created World No Tobacco Day in 1987 to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and the preventable death and disease it causes; and WHEREAS, Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States, killing more than 480,000 Americans each year; 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, The growing e-cig/vaping epidemic has swept the country, and 45,000 public high school students in NYC reported e-cig/vape product usage in 2017, which can lead to negative health outcomes; 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, No Tobacco Day 2025 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 RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 31, 2025, as World No Tobacco Day in the State of New York, and to encourage all 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 Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New York and Public Health Solutions Smoke-Free NYC.