What's happening
This resolution urges Governor Cuomo to declare October 2019 as Spina Bifida Awareness Month in New York State.
Why it matters
Highlights the significant health and financial impacts. of spina bifida on individuals and society, noting that medical costs are substantially higher for those affected and that lifetime costs can exceed one million dollars per case.
Stresses the importance of prevention through public health education. , particularly around folic acid supplementation for women of child-bearing age, which is shown to reduce the risk of neural tube defects like spina bifida.
Seeks to reduce stigma and promote inclusion. by emphasizing that people with spina bifida lead full lives—including careers and families—reminding the public they should not be defined by their condition.
Aims to drive policy and community support. by raising state-level awareness, which could encourage better access to health and support services for New Yorkers living with spina bifida and potentially inspire similar initiatives in other contexts.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Headline styles
Declare Spina Bifida Awareness Month
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Assembly Member · Assembly District 108
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Adopted
- Referred to calendar
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
Assembly Resolution No. 468 BY: M. of A. McDonald MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October 2019, as Spina Bifida Awareness Month in the State of New York WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize official months… Show allHide
Assembly Resolution No. 468 BY: M. of A. McDonald MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October 2019, 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 2019, 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 55% 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
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 2019, 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.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.