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1999 SESSION

993598483
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 710
Offered January 21, 1999
Designating the month of May as Asthma Awareness Month in Virginia.
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Patrons-- Wardrup, Abbitt, Albo, Armstrong, Baker, Baskerville, Behm, Black, Blevins, Bloxom, Brink, Bryant, Byron, Callahan, Cantor, Christian, Clement, Cox, Croshaw, Darner, Davis, DeBoer, Deeds, Devolites, Dillard, Drake, Dudley, Grayson, Griffith, Guest, Hargrove, Harris, Howell, Ingram, Joannou, Jones, D.C., Jones, J.C., Jones, S.C., Katzen, Kilgore, Landes, Marshall, May, McClure, McDonnell, McEachin, McQuigg, Morgan, Nixon, O'Brien, Orrock, Parrish, Phillips, Purkey, Putney, Reid, Rhodes, Rollison, Rust, Sherwood, Spruill, Tata, Tate, Wagner, Ware, Watts, Weatherholtz, Wilkins and Williams; Senators: Forbes, Schrock, Stolle and Watkins
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, asthma, a chronic but treatable disease, afflicts nearly 100 million people worldwide and causes an estimated 5,000 deaths in the United States each year; and

WHEREAS, approximately 14.6 million Americans suffer from asthma, a number that has nearly doubled since 1980; and

WHEREAS, nearly one-third of those suffering from asthma—4.8 million—are children under the age of 18, and asthma is the leading cause of school absenteeism, accounting for 10 million lost school days per year; and

WHEREAS, the rate of childhood asthma has risen alarmingly in the past few years, with the number of asthma cases and asthma-related deaths increasing 40 percent between 1982 and 1995; and

WHEREAS, in Virginia, more than 4,800 children are hospitalized for asthma each year at an annual cost of $17.5 million, and asthma is the third most common reason for child hospitalizations in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, despite affecting so many Americans, asthma remains a frequently misunderstood and misdiagnosed disease, thereby causing needless suffering and death, especially among young children; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby designate the month of May, in 1999 and in each succeeding year, as Asthma Awareness Month in Virginia; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the General Assembly support initiatives, such as Operation Breathe Easy in Virginia Beach, to educate communities about the dangers of asthma; and, be it

RESOLVED FINALLY, That the General Assembly urge all Virginians to become informed about asthma, to take advantage of the many information resources available, and to support efforts to provide better and earlier treatment for all asthma-afflicted Virginians.