THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY MATZIE, BAKER, BISHOP, BOBACK, D. COSTA, BRADFORD, BRENNAN, BRIGGS, BROWNLEE, CALTAGIRONE, CAUSER, CLYMER, CUTLER, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, EVERETT, FABRIZIO, FLECK, GEIST, GEORGE, GIBBONS, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, HENNESSEY, HESS, KIRKLAND, KNOWLES, KORTZ, KOTIK, KULA, MAHONEY, MAJOR, MANN, MARSHALL, MICOZZIE, MILLARD, MIRABITO, MOUL, OBERLANDER, PAYNE, PAYTON, READSHAW, ROCK, ROSS, SANTONI, SONNEY, STABACK, STERN, SWANGER, THOMAS, VULAKOVICH, WHEATLEY AND PASHINSKI, MAY 2, 2011

INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MAY 2, 2011  

A RESOLUTION

Recognizing May 3, 2011, as "World Asthma Day 2011" in

Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, "World Asthma Day 2011" will take place on May 3,

2011; and

WHEREAS, "World Asthma Day" is organized by the Global

Initiative for Asthma (GINA) in collaboration with the

Pennsylvania Asthma Partnership to raise awareness about asthma

and improve asthma care throughout the world; and

WHEREAS, Each year GINA chooses a theme and organizes

preparation and distribution of "World Asthma Day" materials and

resources; and

WHEREAS, "World Asthma Day" activities are organized in each

country by health care professionals, educators and members of

the public who want to help reduce the burden of asthma; and

WHEREAS, The first "World Asthma Day" in 1998 was celebrated

in more than 35 countries in conjunction with the first world

asthma meeting held in Barcelona, Spain; and

WHEREAS, Participation has increased with each "World Asthma

Day" held since then, and the day has become one of the world's

most important asthma awareness and education events; and

WHEREAS, Many Americans are afflicted with asthma, a serious

chronic lung disease, caused by continual airway inflammation

punctuated by episodes or attacks of increased inflammation

often in response to specific triggers; and

WHEREAS, These attacks, characterized by difficulty in

breathing, occasionally are extreme and constitute a medical

emergency; and

WHEREAS, Over the past two decades, the burden of asthma in

the United States has greatly increased; and 

WHEREAS, More recent data about asthma-related

hospitalizations and mortality appear to indicate that asthma

prevalence has stabilized and improved levels of disease

management have helped to mitigate asthma's effects; and

WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Asthma Partnership is comprised of

dedicated professionals, consumers, pharmacies, environmental

groups, nonprofit organizations, respiratory therapists,

registered nurses, insurance providers, Medicaid providers,

medical centers, local asthma coalitions, physicians, community

health centers, a Statewide epidemiologist and State agencies;

and

WHEREAS, Partners will work on short-term, medium-term and

long-term outcomes that, when implemented, can be measured; and

WHEREAS, The ultimate goal of these efforts is to decrease

asthma morbidity, mortality and costs and to increase the

quality of life for those with asthma; and

WHEREAS, The mission of the Pennsylvania Asthma Partnership

is to partner collaboratively in the dedication of expertise and

resources in the ongoing development and implementation of a

sustainable Statewide asthma plan that expands and improves the

quality of asthma care and management, education, awareness,

prevention and surveillance and seeks to eliminate the

disproportionate burden that asthma places on racial and ethnic

minorities and low-income residents of this Commonwealth;

therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize May 3,

2011, as "World Asthma Day 2011" in Pennsylvania.