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.