By:  Glaze                                             H.R. No. 139
       73R3452 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 recently 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, Marion Merrell Dow, Inc., contributed $2,000 to help
   1-15  with the cost of a Texas Department of Health media campaign to
   1-16  educate the public about folic acid, first in the Rio Grande Valley
   1-17  and then in other parts of the state; and
   1-18        WHEREAS, The contributions made to this project by Marion
   1-19  Merrell Dow, Inc., will help reduce the risk of neural tube defects
   1-20  among children in the Rio Grande Valley and throughout Texas; now,
   1-21  therefore, be it
   1-22        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas
   1-23  Legislature hereby commend Marion Merrell Dow, Inc., for its
   1-24  involvement in this important public health project; and, be it
    2-1  further
    2-2        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
    2-3  prepared for Marion Merrell Dow, Inc., as an expression of
    2-4  appreciation by the Texas House of Representatives.