SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2010 SESSION

10103670D
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 124
Offered January 20, 2010
Designating January 20 in 2010 as Healthy Youth Day in Virginia.
----------
Patron-- Northam
----------
Referred to Committee on Rules
----------

WHEREAS, on January 20 at the Capitol Square Bell Tower, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth is holding a celebration of children in Virginia making healthy choices such as eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, and not using tobacco products; and

WHEREAS, approximately 250 school children from Central Virginia public schools will be in attendance; and

WHEREAS, a group of teen step dancers from Norfolk representing the Foundation’s Step Royale initiative to encourage exercise and increase physical activity among African-Americans in Tidewater will also be in attendance, along with representatives from state universities and various public officials; and

WHEREAS, tobacco use and obesity are the two leading causes of death in the United States; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth is responsible for statewide efforts to reduce and prevent childhood tobacco use and obesity; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth was founded by the General Assembly in 1999 and has had a great impact on the youth of Virginia; and

WHEREAS, most adult smokers start using tobacco products as teens, often as early as age 13; and

WHEREAS, smoking among youth in Virginia has been almost cut in half since the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth first began its work; and

WHEREAS, more than 31 percent of children and more than 60 percent of adults in Virginia are overweight or obese; and

WHEREAS, childhood obesity can lead to multiple serious, lifelong health problems such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth’s classroom-based prevention programs reach 141,000 children in public schools, after-school programs, community centers and faith centers statewide; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth’s award-winning television ads and Internet content deliver innovative prevention messages to 600,000 children per year in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth provided funding to the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to conduct more than 3,600 retailer compliance checks in 2009, ensuring that retailers are not selling tobacco products to underage buyers; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth remains committed to its mission of teaching children to learn how to become healthy, happy adults, and increasing awareness and understanding of the issues surrounding childhood obesity and youth tobacco use; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly designate January 20 in 2010 as Healthy Youth Day in Virginia; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate post the designation of this day on the General Assembly’s website.