What is May recognized for? Pennsylvania reps exploring options

(WTAJ) — May is recognized nationally for many things, like Jewish American Heritage Month, ALS Awareness Month, Stroke Awareness Month, and Military Appreciation Month.

To add to the symbols that are already associated with the month, representatives from across Pennsylvania are introducing legislation that would bring awareness to conditions, people and events that they believe are important.

Here are just some of the ones that may become recognized in the Commonwealth:

Health and Wellness

In a memo introduced in early April, Lupus Awareness Day would be recognized on May 10. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that causes the body to mistakenly attack itself. Senator Maria Collett’s memo said that over 1.5 million Americans and at least five million people worldwide have a form of lupus.

Senate Resolution 102 was recently introduced and would make the second week of May as Lung Cancer Action Week and promote a Turquoise Takeover on May 6. The resolution comes from Senator Lynda Culver, and according to research, lung cancer is still the leading cause of cancer in the United States. In Pennsylvania, it’s estimated that there will be over 10,000 new cases and over 5,000 deaths in 2025.

Cancer is also the subject of House Resolution 225, which would make May 13, 2025 as Cancer Action Day. Its sponsors called it an “insidious disease that impacts far too many of our friends and family members.” Adding that early detection is key and that awareness is imperative.

The CDC says that one in five Americans live with a mental illness, and because of this, Senator Christine Tartaglione wants to designate May 2025 as Mental Health Awareness Month. She noted that while awareness has increased in the last decade, the response to the understanding of mental health “still leaves much room for improvement.”

Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) is an involuntary movement disorder that’s caused by medications, including those used to treat mental illnesses. Representative David Delloso said in a memo to House members that those with TD can face stigma for this disorder, which can worsen their mental health symptoms. That’s why he wants to recognize May 4 through May 10 as Tardive Dyskinesia Awareness Week.

In January, Act 1 of 2023 was fully implemented in Pennsylvania, and it eliminates the out-of-pocket costs associated with breast cancer detection for high-risk individuals under state insurance plans. Senator Kim Ward, who is also a breast cancer survivor, wants to encourage women (especially those who are high-risk) to schedule their mammograms. She hopes to do this through Senate Resolution 104, recognizing May 2025 as National Mammography Month.

Recognizing nurses and EMS personnel across Pennsylvania

Multiple Pennsylvania representatives and senators have also announced legislation efforts or plans to announce efforts that will work to recognize those working in healthcare.

Senator Maria Collett, along with Senator Judy Ward, have announced plans to introduce a resolution that would recognize and honor the more than 3,000 school nurses across Pennsylvania. They shared that school nurses “rise to meet each challenge with the same sense of urgency, compassion, and duty as every other front-line health professional in the Commonwealth.”

Collett and Ward also plan to introduce a resolution that would name the week of May 11-17, 2025, as Skilled Nursing Care Week. The memo said the recognition would honor the work being done by “dedicated and selfless healthcare professionals at skilled nursing facilities” across Pennsylvania.

EMS personnel are also a pillar in the healthcare community and provide life-saving care when they are needed most. In order to honor them, two resolutions have been introduced by Pennsylvania representatives.

First, Senator Doug Mastriano asked for support in naming May 18-24, 2025, as Emergency Medical Services Week.

“As skilled professionals in the front lines of emergency care, volunteer and career members of our EMS network engage in thousands of hours of specialized training and continuing education to enhance their lifesaving abilities.  Our EMS workers greatly deserve this recognition,” Mastriano said.

Secondly, Senator Katie Muth, along with Senators John Kane, Nick Pisciottano and Lindsey Williams, plan to declare May 23, 2025, as EMS Recognition Day in a resolution.

“Their commitment to service, protection and public health is second-to-none and no matter what the danger is on the other end of a line, these brave men and women work tirelessly and selflessly to improve and save lives,” The senator’s memo read.

Other days of recognition

Senator Wayne Langerholc wants to recognize correctional officers and employees whose work is “critical to maintaining public safety, upholding the rule of the law, and supporting offender rehabilitation and reentry.” His resolution, while it hasn’t been introduced yet, would designate May 4 through 10 as Correctional Officers and Employees Week.

Another resolution that currently sits in the House Committee of Children and Youth would recognize May 2025 as the Month of May (MOM), Mom Month. In her introductory memo, State Representative Marla Brown said mothers are vital to the nation and that they deserve to be celebrated for the lives they bring into the world, and to take time for themselves and their health.

Senator Devlin Robinson has also introduced a resolution that would recognize May 9 to 18 as Go Public Gardens Day and would encourage residents to visit public gardens across Pennsylvania. According to his memo, those gardens attract over 4 million people each year to the state and make over $500 million for the economy.