Assembly Resolution No. 418
BY: M. of A. Jones
MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
May 2019, as Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month in the
State of New York
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official months that are set aside to increase awareness of serious
illnesses 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 Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 2019, as Cystic
Fibrosis Awareness Month in the State of New York; and
WHEREAS, The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, a donor-supported nonprofit
organization, is the world's leader in the search for a cure for cystic
fibrosis, having raised and invested hundreds of millions of dollars to
help develop drugs and therapies; and
WHEREAS, The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is working to cure cystic
fibrosis and to provide all people struggling with the disease the
opportunity to lead full, productive lives; and
WHEREAS, Cystic fibrosis, commonly referred to as "CF", is a genetic
disease affecting more than 30,000 children and adults in the United
States, and 70,000 children and adults worldwide, 1,650 of whom live in
New York; and
WHEREAS, A defective gene causes the body to produce an abnormally
thick, sticky mucus that clogs the lungs, and these secretions produce
life-threatening lung infections and obstruct the pancreas, preventing
digestive enzymes from reaching the intestines to help break down and
absorb food; and
WHEREAS, More than 10 million Americans are symptomless carriers of
the defective CF gene, and CF occurs in approximately one of every 3,500
live births in the United States, making it the most common generic
disease in the U.S.; and
WHEREAS, The median age of survival for a person with CF is 47.7
years; and
WHEREAS, With advances in the treatment of CF, the number of adults
with CF has steadily grown, and approximately 1,000 new cases of CF are
diagnosed each year; and
WHEREAS, Through the CF Foundation's efforts and care centers in New
York, the life expectancy of a child with CF has doubled in the last 30
years, and research to find a cure is more promising than ever; and
WHEREAS, More than 75% of people are diagnosed by age 2, more than
50% of the CF population is 18 years of age and older, and people with
CF have a variety of symptoms attributed to the more than 1,800
mutations of the CF gene; and
WHEREAS, Infant blood screening to detect genetic defects is the
most reliable and least costly method to identify persons likely to have
CF; and
WHEREAS, Early diagnosis of CF permits early treatment and enhances
quality of life and longevity and the treatment of CF depends on the
stage of the disease and the organs involved; and
WHEREAS, Clearing mucus from the lungs is an important part of the
daily CF treatment regimen, and other types of treatments include
inhaled antibiotics and pancreatic enzymes, among others; and
WHEREAS, There are 23 accredited CF treatment centers in New York,
which specialize in the diagnosis of CF and the care of persons with CF;
and
WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of
this serious health issue, and more must be done to increase activity at
the local, State and national levels; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body commends the dedication of those
working to improve the quality of life of individuals with CF, families
of those individuals and the 66 thousand CF advocates in the great State
of New York, and expresses continued support for accelerated research to
develop more effective treatments for Cystic Fibrosis and to ultimately
find a cure; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 2019, as Cystic
Fibrosis Awareness Month in the State of New York; 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.
