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.