See other bills
under the
same topic
                                                      PRINTER'S NO. 3653

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE RESOLUTION

No. 726 Session of 2008


        INTRODUCED BY STURLA, ADOLPH, BEAR, BEYER, BISHOP, BRENNAN,
           CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, CLYMER, COHEN, CONKLIN, CREIGHTON,
           CUTLER, DALEY, DeLUCA, DePASQUALE, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI,
           FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GALLOWAY, GEIST, GEORGE, GILLESPIE,
           GINGRICH, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HARHART, HELM,
           HENNESSEY, HERSHEY, HESS, HICKERNELL, JAMES, KILLION, KOTIK,
           KULA, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MANN, MANTZ, MILLARD, MOUL, MOYER,
           MURT, MUSTIO, MYERS, O'NEILL, PALLONE, PARKER, PAYNE,
           PHILLIPS, RAMALEY, READSHAW, REICHLEY, ROSS, SAINATO,
           SANTONI, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, SHIMKUS, K. SMITH, SONNEY,
           SWANGER, TRUE, VULAKOVICH, WALKO, J. WHITE, WOJNAROSKI,
           YOUNGBLOOD, MELIO AND BASTIAN, MAY 2, 2008

        INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
           MAY 2, 2008

                                  A RESOLUTION

     1  Recognizing May 6, 2008, as "World Asthma Day 2008" in
     2     Pennsylvania.

     3     WHEREAS, "World Asthma Day 2008" will take place on May 6,
     4  2008; and
     5     WHEREAS, This year's event will continue the focus on the
     6  positive theme introduced for World Asthma Day 2007, "You Can
     7  Control Your Asthma"; and
     8     WHEREAS, This theme is consistent with the emphasis on asthma
     9  control set out in the latest versions of the Global Initiative
    10  for Asthma (GINA) guideline documents and will help to spread
    11  the word that asthma control is the goal of treatment and can be
    12  achieved in the vast majority of asthma patients with proper


     1  management; and
     2     WHEREAS, "World Asthma Day" is organized by GINA in
     3  collaboration with the Pennsylvania Asthma Partnership to raise
     4  awareness about asthma and improve asthma care throughout the
     5  world; and
     6     WHEREAS, Each year GINA chooses a theme and organizes
     7  preparation and distribution of "World Asthma Day" materials and
     8  resources; and
     9     WHEREAS, "World Asthma Day" activities are organized in each
    10  country by health care professionals, educators and members of
    11  the public who want to help reduce the burden of asthma; and
    12     WHEREAS, The first "World Asthma Day" in 1998 was celebrated
    13  in more than 35 countries in conjunction with the first world
    14  asthma meeting held in Barcelona, Spain; and
    15     WHEREAS, Participation has increased with each "World Asthma
    16  Day" held since then, and the day has become one of the world's
    17  most important asthma awareness and education events; and
    18     WHEREAS, Many Americans are afflicted by asthma, a serious
    19  chronic lung disease, caused by continual airway inflammation
    20  punctuated by episodes or attacks of increased inflammation
    21  often in response to specific triggers; and
    22     WHEREAS, These attacks, characterized by difficulty in
    23  breathing, occasionally are extreme and constitute a medical
    24  emergency; and
    25     WHEREAS, Over the past two decades, the burden of asthma in
    26  the United States has greatly increased; however, within the
    27  last few years, mortality and hospitalizations due to asthma
    28  have decreased and asthma prevalence has stabilized, possibly
    29  indicating an improved level of disease management; and
    30     WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Asthma Partnership is comprised of
    20080H0726R3653                  - 2 -     

     1  dedicated professionals, consumers, pharmacies, environmental
     2  groups, nonprofit organizations, respiratory therapists,
     3  registered nurses, insurance providers, Medicaid providers,
     4  medical centers, local asthma coalitions, physicians, community
     5  health centers, a Statewide epidemiologist and State agencies;
     6  and
     7     WHEREAS, Partners will work on short-term, medium-term and
     8  long-term outcomes that when implemented, can be measured; and
     9     WHEREAS, The ultimate goal of these efforts is to decrease
    10  asthma morbidity, mortality and costs and to increase the
    11  quality of life for those with asthma; and
    12     WHEREAS, The mission of the Pennsylvania Asthma Partnership
    13  is to partner collaboratively in the dedication of expertise and
    14  resources in the ongoing development and implementation of a
    15  sustainable Statewide asthma plan that expands and improves the
    16  quality of asthma care and management, education, awareness,
    17  prevention and surveillance and seeks to eliminate the
    18  disproportionate burden that asthma places on racial and ethnic
    19  minorities and low-income residents of this Commonwealth;
    20  therefore be it
    21     RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize May 6,
    22  2008, as "World Asthma Day 2008" in Pennsylvania.






    D25L82BIL/20080H0726R3653        - 3 -