Bill > K00254

This resolution calls on Governor Kathy Hochul to officially proclaim October 2025 as Spina Bifida Awareness Month in New York State, highlighting the significant challenges faced by individuals with this birth condition. Spina bifida is a serious neural tube defect that occurs during early pregnancy when the spinal column fails to form or close properly, resulting in potential spinal column damage and varying degrees of paralysis. The resolution emphasizes that approximately eight babies are born daily with this condition in the United States, and affected individuals face substantial medical challenges, with medical expenditures for children with spina bifida being 13 times higher than those without the condition. The document also promotes awareness about prevention, noting that taking 400 micrograms of folic acid daily can reduce the risk of neural tube defects and that folic acid fortification has already helped decrease the prevalence of spina bifida. Ultimately, the resolution aims to raise public understanding about the condition and highlight that people with spina bifida are multifaceted individuals with careers, families, and potential, not simply defined by their medical condition. The resolution will be transmitted to Governor Hochul and the Spina Bifida Association of Northeastern New York.

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/K254