ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 222
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
216th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED MARCH 9, 2015
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman HERB CONAWAY, JR.
District 7 (Burlington)
Assemblywoman PAMELA R. LAMPITT
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
Assemblyman TROY SINGLETON
District 7 (Burlington)
Assemblywoman NANCY J. PINKIN
District 18 (Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Designates week of May 11th through May 17th, 2015 as "Women's Lung Health Week" in New Jersey.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee on March 16, 2015, with amendments.
An Assembly Resolution designating the week of May 11th through May 17th, 2015 as "Women's Lung Health Week" in the State of New Jersey.
Whereas, Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer death in women in the United States; and
Whereas, Lung cancer kills 1[twice as many] more1 women than breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers combined; and
Whereas, Lung cancer diagnoses among women have increased 1[six-fold] dramatically1 in the last 35 years, and the death rate for 1[those] women diagnosed1 with the disease has nearly doubled in the same time span; and
Whereas, Every five minutes, a woman is diagnosed with lung cancer. On average, less than half of all women diagnosed with lung cancer will be alive one year after diagnosis; and
Whereas, Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer but many Americans are unaware that genetics, exposure to secondhand smoke, radon gas, and air pollution also play a causal role in developing the disease; and
Whereas, Data 1[shows] show1 that 1[ten] 101 percent of people who develop lung cancer are nonsmokers, and one in five women diagnosed with lung cancer never smoked; and
Whereas, According to the American Lung Association's Women's Health Barometer survey, when asked to identify cancers that affect women, only one percent of women cited lung cancer; and
Whereas, More than half the women surveyed by the American Lung Association believed breast cancer killed more women, despite the fact that deaths associated with lung cancer surpassed those caused by breast cancer in 1987; and
Whereas, The survey also showed that when women learned the truth about lung cancer, especially the mortality facts, they were more likely to take action to address lung cancer; and
Whereas, Lung Force, a public health initiative launched by the American Lung Association, is helping to save lives, improve lung health, and prevent lung cancer by encouraging women to raise their voices and unite in making lung cancer a public health priority; and
Whereas, Advocacy and increased public awareness about the disease will result in innovations in lung cancer research, improved early detection methods, and better medical treatment for women with lung cancer and other lung diseases; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The week of May 11th through May 17th, 2015 is designated as "Women's Lung Health Week" in the State of New Jersey to encourage the citizens of the State to advocate for, and help raise public awareness about, innovations in lung cancer research, improved early detection methods, and better medical treatment for women with lung cancer and other lung diseases.
2. The Governor is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon public officials, the health care community, and the citizens of New Jersey to observe the week with appropriate activities and programs.
3. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the 1Governor and to the1 American Lung Association in New Jersey.