Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Assemblywoman Vanessa L. Gibson announced the passage of legislation this week to give New Yorkers the opportunity to help fight lung cancer by supporting the Lung Cancer Education and Prevention Fund through a tax check-off on state tax forms.

"While over the years, there has been a tremendous amount of progress in the war against lung cancer, we cannot let down our guard," said Silver. "Lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of death in our state. With the resources provided by this fund, we hope to increase public awareness, achieve earlier detections, encourage healthier life-styles, and dramatically reduce the number of New Yorkers who die from lung cancer each year."

"By establishing this fund, we hope to launch a modern day public information plan that will utilize all social media and other modern forms of communication to get out the message on lung cancer education and prevention," said Gibson. "Through this initiative, many lives can be saved from this terrible disease because more people will be aware of the causes of lung cancer and the steps they can take to live healthy lives."

The bill (A.620,Gibson) would establish the Lung Cancer Education and Prevention Fund in order to address the more than 13,000 incidences of lung cancer that are reported annually to the state Health Department (DOH).

The legislation also creates a tax check-off on the state's personal and corporate income tax forms. Under the measure, which has passed the Assembly for the last several years, proceeds from the check-off would be directed by DOH to education and prevention programs that are focused on fighting this disease. According to DOH, there are an estimated 8,000 New Yorkers who perish to lung cancer each year. The bill was delivered to the Senate.

Silver and Gibson believe this initiative will encourage the public to be more proactive in protecting themselves from lung cancer as they better understand the range of risk factors that are linked to the disease, including personal and family history, smoking, radon gas, different types of lung diseases, asbestos exposure and other workplace exposures.