Assembly Resolution No. 18

BY: M. of A. Lupardo

        MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
        January  2021, as Radon Awareness Month in the State
        of New York

  WHEREAS, It is the custom of  this  Legislative  Body  to  recognize
official  months  that  are  set  aside to increase awareness of serious
health issues that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-standing  traditions,  this  Legislative  Body  hereby memorializes
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim January 2021,  as  Radon  Awareness
Month  in  the  State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of
National Radon Action Month; and

  WHEREAS, Radon is a colorless, odorless, invisible gas that can only
be detected through radon testing; it  is  a  radioactive  gas  that  is
produced  by  the  natural  decay of uranium that is found in nearly all
soils; and

  WHEREAS, It is estimated that radon causes many thousands of  deaths
each  year  due  to  breathing air containing radon which can cause lung
cancer; the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second  leading
cause of lung cancer in the United States today; and

  WHEREAS,  The  only  way to know if there is a risk from radon is to
test for it; the EPA and the Surgeon  General  both  strongly  recommend
testing all homes below the third floor for radon; and

  WHEREAS,  The  Governor  signed Chapter 414 of 2018 which recognized
the dangers of exposure and created a Radon  Task  Force  to  conduct  a
comprehensive study on the human exposure to radon in indoor settings in
New York State; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  imperative that there be greater awareness of this
serious health condition, and more must be done to increase activity  at
the local, State and National levels; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim January 2021, as  Radon
Awareness  Month  in  the  State  of  New  York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Radon Action Month; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted  to  The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.