Bill Text: NJ AJR73 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates May of each year as "Better Hearing and Speech Month."
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-09 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee [AJR73 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-AJR73-Introduced.html
No. 73
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2024 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman YVONNE LOPEZ
District 19 (Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Designates May of each year as "Better Hearing and Speech Month."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
A Joint Resolution designating May of each year as "Better Hearing and Speech Month."
Whereas, Hearing is a significant health issue in men and women, and over time, as hearing loss progresses and communicating becomes more difficult, individuals may be discouraged from socialization, which leads to isolation; and
Whereas, An estimated 40 million Americans have some type of communication disorder, costing the United States approximately $154 billion to $186 billion annually due to lost work productivity, special education, and medical treatment; and
Whereas, Hearing loss affects individuals across a broad range of ages; and
Whereas, Eight percent of children under six-years-old across the nation have speech and language disorders, one in five children between the ages of 12 to 19 has hearing loss, and by the first grade, approximately 5 percent of children have speech or language disorders; and
Whereas, Early identification and treatment can enhance the acquisition of functional communication skills; and
Whereas, The engagement of parents, educators, and community leaders is of great importance in order to raise awareness and support for those with communication disorders; and
Whereas, Individuals can help persons with hearing and speech disabilities by joining a hearing health organization, donating a hearing device, volunteering, or donating to support the mission of hearing health; and
Whereas, It is fitting and proper that the Legislature designate the month of May as "Better Hearing and Speech Month" in order to provide an opportunity to raise awareness about communication disorders and encourage the residents of the State of New Jersey to join together in raising awareness and public knowledge of hearing and speech disabilities; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. May of each year is designated as "Better Hearing and Speech Month" in the State of New Jersey to help increase awareness of the problems affecting persons with hearing and speech disabilities.
2. The Governor is requested to annually issue a proclamation calling upon public officials and the citizens of New Jersey to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs.
3. This joint resolution
shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This joint resolution designates May of each year as "Better Hearing and Speech Month" in New Jersey to help increase awareness of the problems affecting persons with hearing and speech disabilities.
The joint resolution asks the Governor to annually issue a proclamation recognizing May as "Better Hearing and Speech Month" in New Jersey, and calling upon public officials and the citizens of New Jersey to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs.
