By:  Glaze                                             H.R. No. 140
       73R3455 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,  Lederle Laboratories donated 70,000 bottles of
   1-15  multivitamins with folic acid to be dispensed in South Texas health
   1-16  clinics and contributed $75,000 to help with the cost of a Texas
   1-17  Department of Health media campaign to educate the public about
   1-18  folic acid, first in the Rio Grande Valley and then in other parts
   1-19  of the state; and
   1-20        WHEREAS,  The contributions made to this project by Lederle
   1-21  Laboratories will help reduce the risk of neural tube defects among
   1-22  children in the Rio Grande Valley and throughout Texas; now,
   1-23  therefore, be it
   1-24        RESOLVED,  That the House of Representatives of the 73rd
    2-1  Texas Legislature hereby commend Lederle Laboratories for its
    2-2  involvement in this important public health project; and, be it
    2-3  further
    2-4        RESOLVED,  That an official copy of this resolution be
    2-5  prepared for Lederle Laboratories as an expression of appreciation
    2-6  by the Texas House of Representatives.