By: Glaze H.R. No. 141 73R3449 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, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals contributed $5,000 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 Pfizer 1-19 Pharmaceuticals 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 Pfizer Pharmaceuticals 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 Pfizer Pharmaceuticals as an expression of 2-4 appreciation by the Texas House of Representatives.