By: Lucio S.R. No. 173 1-1 SENATE RESOLUTION 1-2 WHEREAS, The Texas Department of Health has a duty to the 1-3 citizens and taxpayers of this state to do everything in its power 1-4 to ensure that its many responsibilities are carried out as 1-5 efficiently as possible with available resources, and much can be 1-6 achieved toward this goal by the department's forming a partnership 1-7 with the private sector to better serve the public; and 1-8 WHEREAS, Because of a recently documented increase in neural 1-9 tube birth defects in the Rio Grande Valley, the Texas Department 1-10 of Health recommends that all women of childbearing age in Cameron 1-11 and Hidalgo counties supplement their diets with folic acid, a 1-12 B vitamin, which studies show may reduce the incidence of such 1-13 defects; and 1-14 WHEREAS, Marion Merrell Dow, Incorporated, contributed $2,000 1-15 to help with the cost of a Texas Department of Health media campaign 1-16 to educate the public about folic acid, first in the Rio Grande 1-17 Valley and then in other parts of the state; and 1-18 WHEREAS, The success of this project will help reduce the 1-19 risk of neural tube defects in the state; now, therefore, be it 1-20 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 1-21 73rd Legislature, hereby commend Marion Merrell Dow, Incorporated, 1-22 for its outstanding work on behalf of the health and welfare of the 1-23 people of Texas; and, be it further 2-1 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 2-2 Marion Merrell Dow, Incorporated, as an expression of the 2-3 appreciation of the Texas Senate. 2-4 _____________________________________ 2-5 President of the Senate 2-6 I hereby certify that the 2-7 above Resolution was adopted by 2-8 the Senate on February 8, 1993. 2-9 _____________________________________ 2-10 Secretary of the Senate 2-11 _____________________________________ 2-12 Member, Texas Senate