WHEREAS, the State of Idaho has long been concerned with the health of its citizens; and

     WHEREAS, chronic lung diseases, know collectively as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are the fourth leading cause of death in the United States; and

     WHEREAS, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases cost the United States an estimated $31.9 billion a year; and

     WHEREAS, 16 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with some form of COPD, with a similar number undiagnosed; and

     WHEREAS, awareness, early detection and treatment are crucial in the prevention or slowing of the spread of lung disease in this country; and

     WHEREAS, the citizens of Idaho deserve the opportunity to grow, thrive; be healthy, informed and aware of their respiratory health and of the factors that affect that health;

     NOW, THEREFORE, I, DIRK KEMPTHORNE, Governor of the State of Idaho, do hereby proclaim November 2003, to be

COPD AWARENESS MONTH

in Idaho.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused to be affixed the Great Seal of the State of Idaho at the Capitol in Boise on this thirtieth day of August in the year of our Lord two-thousand and three and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred twenty-eighth and of the Statehood of Idaho the one hundred fourteenth.

BEN YSURSA
SECRETARY OF STATE