Bill Text: NY J01566 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim July 2022, as Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month in the State of New York

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2022-01-11 - ADOPTED [J01566 Detail]

Download: New_York-2021-J01566-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 1566

BY: Senator KAPLAN

        MEMORIALIZING  Governor  Kathy  Hochul to proclaim
        July 2022, as Cleft and Craniofacial  Awareness  and
        Prevention 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
health  conditions  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 July 2022,  as  Cleft  and
Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month in the State of New York, in
conjunction  with  the  observance  of  National  Cleft and Craniofacial
Awareness and Prevention Month; and

  WHEREAS, When we share what makes us unique with others,  the  world
becomes  a  better,  more  interesting  place;  Cleft  and  Craniofacial
Awareness and Prevention Month is  about  celebrating  differences,  not
only  in how we look and sound, but also in the experiences that make us
who we are; and

  WHEREAS, National Cleft and Craniofacial  Awareness  and  Prevention
Month was established by AmeriFace and cleftAdvocate; and

  WHEREAS,  Cleft  and  craniofacial  conditions  affect  thousands of
infants, children, teens and adults in the United States each year; some
are born with congenital anomalies like cleft  lip  and  palate,  others
with  more  complex,  life-threatening craniofacial conditions; some are
burned; others are injured in accidents and animal attacks or  diagnosed
with various oral/head/neck and skin diseases; and

  WHEREAS, Every year in the United States, approximately 7,000 babies
(or 1 out of every 600) are born with a cleft lip and/or a cleft palate;
these  are  two  of  the  most  common birth defects found in the United
States; and

  WHEREAS, A cleft lip occurs when the lip does not  completely  form,
leaving  an opening in the lip; the opening can range from a small notch
to a large opening from the lip up through the nose; and

  WHEREAS, A cleft palate occurs when the roof of the  mouth  (palate)
does  not  completely close, leaving an opening that can extend into the
nasal cavity; cleft lip and cleft palate may occur together or on  their
own; and

  WHEREAS,  The  causes  of orofacial clefts are unknown; genetics may
play a factor in some cases as well as exposure to certain risk  factors
that  arise  during  a  woman's  pregnancy;  prenatal  factors  known to
increase the chance of  having  an  orofacial  cleft  include:  smoking,
diabetes,  or  the  use  of  certain  medications such as anti-epileptic
medications like topiramate or valproic acid; and

  WHEREAS, Children with  orofacial  clefts  often  have  an  impaired
ability  to  feed  and  an  impaired  language  development; babies need
special bottles and nipples to feed successfully, as well as feeding  in
an upright position; and

  WHEREAS,  Surgery  to  repair these clefts usually occurs within the
first 12-18 months of life; surgical repair is not just to  improve  the
appearance  of the child's face but may also improve breathing, hearing,
and speech and language development; and

  WHEREAS, Children may also need other types  of  treatment  such  as
special  dental  and  orthodontic  care  or  speech therapy; with proper
treatment, most children with orofacial clefts  continue  to  experience
healthy lives; and

  WHEREAS,  While they are the most common, cleft lip and cleft palate
are only two of many craniofacial birth defects; these defects may occur
alone or in combination as part of a craniofacial syndrome;  some  other
anomalies  include:  craniosynostosis-  the skull of an infant fuses too
early, causing problems with brain and  skull  growth;  anotia/microtia-
the   external  ear  is  missing  or  small  and  not  formed  properly;
anophthalmia/microphthalmia- one or both eyes are missing or  small  and
not  fully  developed; hemifacial microsomia- the tissues on one side of
the face are underdeveloped; micrognathia- the jaw  is  undersized;  and
positional plagiocephaly- the head is misshapen and asymmetrical; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  imperative that there be greater awareness of this
serious health condition, and more must be done to increase activity  at
the local, State and National levels; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim July 2022,  as  Cleft  and
Craniofacial  Awareness  and  Prevention 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 Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York.