Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 31, 2026, as No Tobacco Day in the State of New York

Assembly Resolution No. 1525

BY: M. of A. Rules (Levenberg)

        MEMORIALIZING  Governor  Kathy  Hochul to proclaim
        May 31, 2026, as No Tobacco Day in the State of  New
        York

  LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
May 31, 2026, as No Tobacco Day in the State of New York

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  custom  of this Legislative Body to recognize
official days that are set aside to increase awareness  of  issues  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  May  31, 2026, as No
Tobacco Day in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance
of World No Tobacco Day; and

  WHEREAS, World No Tobacco Day is observed  around  the  world  every
year  on  May  31st;  it  is  meant  to  encourage  a  24-hour period of
abstinence from all forms of tobacco consumption across the  globe;  the
day  is  further  intended  to  draw  global attention to the widespread
prevalence of tobacco use and to negative health effects; and

  WHEREAS, The Member States of the World Health Organization  created
World  No  Tobacco  Day  in 1987 to draw global attention to the tobacco
epidemic and the preventable death and disease it causes; and

  WHEREAS, Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable  death
and  disease  in  the United States, killing more than 480,000 Americans
each year; and

  WHEREAS, Second-hand smoke is an established cause of lung cancer in
non-smokers, and  exposure  to  second-hand  smoke  in  the  home  is  a
significant cause of respiratory ailments in children, and Sudden Infant
Death Syndrome; and

  WHEREAS,  The  growing  e-cig/vaping epidemic has swept the country,
and 45,000 public  high  school  students  in  NYC  reported  e-cig/vape
product usage in 2017, which can lead to negative health outcomes; and

  WHEREAS, Short-term health risks of tobacco use include shortness of
breath,   increased  heart  rate,  exacerbation  of  asthma,  impotence,
infertility and increased blood levels  of  carbon  monoxide;  long-term
health  risks caused by tobacco use include heart attack, stroke, cancer
and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; and

  WHEREAS, No Tobacco Day 2026 aims to: highlight  the  links  between
the use of tobacco products and heart and other cardiovascular diseases;
increase  awareness  within the broader public of the impact tobacco use
and exposure to second-hand smoke have on cardiovascular health; and

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
memorialize  Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 31, 2026, as World No

Tobacco Day in the State of New York, and to encourage all its  citizens
to  participate  by not starting to smoke, by attempting to stop, and by
encouraging others to do the same; 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, and Public Health Solutions Smoke-Free NYC.