Bill Text: NY K00938 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

New York Assembly Resolution 938 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October 2020, as Spina Bifida Awareness Month in the State of New York

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2020-06-10 - adopted [K00938 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-K00938-Introduced.html


Assembly Resolution No. 938

BY: M. of A. McDonald

        MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
        October 2020, as Spina Bifida Awareness Month in the
        State of New York

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  custom  of this Legislative Body to recognize
official months dedicated to  raising  awareness  of  serious  illnesses
impacting 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  Cuomo  to proclaim October 2020, as Spina
Bifida Awareness Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Spina Bifida Awareness Month; and

  WHEREAS, Spina bifida, which occurs when the spine of the baby fails
to close and a lesion on the spinal  column  is  created,  is  the  most
common  permanently  disabling  birth  defect  in  the United States; an
average of eight babies every day  are  born  with  spina  bifida  or  a
similar defect of the brain and spine; and

  WHEREAS,  Spina  bifida  happens during the first month of pregnancy
when the spinal column  and  brain,  or  neural  tube,  is  formed;  the
openings,  or lesions, in the spinal column end up causing damage in the
spinal column and result in some degree of paralysis; and

  WHEREAS, There are many New Yorkers living  with  spina  bifida  for
whom  health  and  support services are critical to their well-being and
improving their quality of life; and

  WHEREAS, Children born with spina bifida have  medical  expenditures
that  are 13 times greater than those of the average child without spina
bifida; adults with spina bifida have average medical expenditures  that
are  three  to  six  times  greater  than  those of adults without spina
bifida; and

  WHEREAS, The average total lifetime cost to society for many infants
born with spina bifida may well exceed one million dollars; and

  WHEREAS, Studies have shown that taking  folic  acid  decreases  the
risk for neural tube defects during pregnancy; and

  WHEREAS,  Approximately 56% of all pregnancies in New York State are
unplanned; folic acid education can  help  women  of  child-bearing  age
understand  the  benefits  of taking a daily multivitamin to avoid these
birth defects; and

  WHEREAS, Experts recommend that all women of  child-bearing  age  in
the  United  States  who are capable of becoming pregnant should consume
400 micrograms of folic acid per day for the purpose of  reducing  their
risk of having a pregnancy affected with spina bifida; and

  WHEREAS, The prevalence of spina bifida among children from birth to
11  years  of  age  declined  by 1.4% annually from 1991 to 2002, with a

consistent reduction each year due to folic acid  fortification  of  the
food supply; and

  WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize Spina
Bifida  Awareness  Month  in  the  State of New York, to raise awareness
regarding the challenges of living with spina bifida and the steps  that
can  be taken to prevent spina bifida; it is the hope that this month of
awareness will also remind all New Yorkers that people with spina bifida
are not defined by  their  condition,  they  are  people  with  careers,
families,  and  children, just like so many people without spina bifida;
now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
memorialize  Governor  Andrew  Cuomo  to proclaim October 2020, as Spina
Bifida Awareness Month in the State of New York; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That copies of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted  to The Honorable Andrew Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York; and the Spina Bifida Association of Northeastern New York.