Senate Resolution No. 247 BY: Senator SALAZAR MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim January 2025, as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month in the State of New York WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim January 2025, as Cervical Cancer Awareness Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month; and WHEREAS, Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer and fourth most frequent cause of cancer deaths in women worldwide; and WHEREAS, Nearly 14,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year in the United States, and more than 4,000 die as a result; and WHEREAS, In 2024, there were about 840 new cases of cervical cancer in the State of New York, and 180 women died from the disease; and WHEREAS, Hispanic women have the highest rate of cervical cancer, and Black, non-Hispanic women are more likely to die of cervical cancer than any other group; and WHEREAS, The disease is almost totally treatable or preventable with routine screening, which the American Cancer Society recommends women begin at the age of 25; and WHEREAS, Mortality from cervical cancer is associated with being diagnosed at a later stage, which can stem from poor access to and uptake of preventative services and a lack of follow-up care after an abnormal screening result; and WHEREAS, Awareness of the disease, its risk factors, and the importance of access to preventative measures are critical to perpetuating the continual decrease of the incidence of cervical cancer in women in the State of New York and across the Nation; and WHEREAS, Cervical cancer has affected residents from each and every county in this great Empire State; Cervical Cancer Awareness Month not only brings attention to this preventable, life-threatening disease affecting so many of our friends, family, and neighbors in New York State, but also honors those who have succumbed to it; and WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of this serious health issue, and more must be done to increase activity at the local, State and national levels to support the patients as well as their families; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim January 2025, as Cervical Cancer Awareness 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.