By: Lucio S.R. No. 168 1-1 SENATE RESOLUTION 1-2 WHEREAS, The Texas Department of Health has a duty to 1-3 the citizens and taxpayers of this state to do everything in 1-4 its power to ensure that its many duties and responsibilities 1-5 are carried out as efficiently as possible with available 1-6 resources, and much can be achieved toward this goal by the 1-7 department's forming a partnership with the private sector to 1-8 better serve the public; and 1-9 WHEREAS, Because of a recent documented increase of 1-10 neural tube birth defects in the Rio Grande Valley, the Texas 1-11 Department of Health recommends that all women of childbearing 1-12 age in Cameron and Hidalgo counties supplement their diets with 1-13 folic acid, a B vitamin, which studies show may reduce the 1-14 incidence of such defects; and 1-15 WHEREAS, Lederle Laboratories donated 70,000 bottles of 1-16 multi-vitamins with folic acid to be dispensed in South Texas 1-17 health clinics and contributed $75,000 to help with the cost of 1-18 a Texas Department of Health media campaign to educate the public 1-19 about folic acid, first in the Rio Grande Valley and then in other 1-20 parts of the state; and 1-21 WHEREAS, The success of this project will help reduce the 1-22 risk of neural tube defects in the state; now, therefore, be it 1-23 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-1 73rd Legislature, hereby commend Lederle Laboratories for its 2-2 outstanding work on behalf of the health and welfare of the people 2-3 of Texas; and, be it further 2-4 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 2-5 Lederle Laboratories as an expression of the appreciation of the 2-6 Texas Senate. 2-7 _____________________________________ 2-8 President of the Senate 2-9 I hereby certify that the 2-10 above Resolution was adopted by 2-11 the Senate on February 8, 1993. 2-12 _____________________________________ 2-13 Secretary of the Senate 2-14 _____________________________________ 2-15 Member, Texas Senate