By: Glaze H.R. No. 138 73R3454 SRD-F R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas Department of Health owes a duty to the 1-2 citizens and taxpayers of this state to do everything in its power 1-3 to ensure that its many responsibilities are carried out as 1-4 efficiently as possible with available resources; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Much can be achieved toward this goal by the Texas 1-6 Department of Health forming a partnership with the private sector 1-7 to better serve the public; and 1-8 WHEREAS, Because of a recent documented increase of neural 1-9 tube birth defects among children in the Rio Grande Valley, the 1-10 Texas Department of Health recommends that all women of 1-11 childbearing age in Cameron and Hidalgo counties supplement their 1-12 diets with folic acid, a B vitamin, which studies show may reduce 1-13 the incidence of such defects; and 1-14 WHEREAS, The Council for Responsible Nutrition of Washington, 1-15 D.C., coordinated the donation of vitamins with folic acid by 1-16 private pharmaceutical companies to the Texas Department of Health 1-17 to be dispensed in South Texas health clinics; and 1-18 WHEREAS, The contributions made to this project by the 1-19 Council for Responsible Nutrition will help reduce the risk of 1-20 neural tube defects among children in the Rio Grande Valley and 1-21 throughout Texas; now, therefore, be it 1-22 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas 1-23 Legislature hereby commend the Council for Responsible Nutrition 1-24 for its involvement in this important public health project; and, 2-1 be it further 2-2 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-3 prepared for the Council for Responsible Nutrition as an expression 2-4 of appreciation by the Texas House of Representatives.