By Hirschi H.R. No. 1024 74R13748 PAN-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, While America has vastly improved the longevity of 1-2 its citizens through the years, heart disease and cancer remain the 1-3 leading causes of death in this state and nation; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Two-thirds of the deaths reported in the United 1-5 States each year are attributable to heart disease and cancer, 1-6 making the prevention of these deadly diseases among the most 1-7 urgent of health care challenges facing this country today; and 1-8 WHEREAS, The National Cancer Institute estimates that more 1-9 than 160,000 deaths that occur annually from cancer may result in 1-10 part from the typical American diet, which is too high in fat and 1-11 too low in the consumption of fruits, vegetables, and other sources 1-12 rich in fiber; and 1-13 WHEREAS, The American Cancer Society, the American Heart 1-14 Association, and the American Diabetes Association have concurred 1-15 in these important findings and strongly recommend new dietary 1-16 guidelines for Americans that are low in fat and high in fiber as a 1-17 means of reducing the risk of cancer and heart disease; and 1-18 WHEREAS, To this end, the National Cancer Institute has 1-19 launched the "5 a Day for Better Health" national disease 1-20 prevention program, which is strongly supported by the U.S. 1-21 Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of 1-22 Agriculture, and the National Academy of Sciences; and 1-23 WHEREAS, This worthy program seeks to heighten public 1-24 awareness of the advantages of a low-fat, high-fiber diet and 2-1 encourages all Americans to consume five fruits and vegetables a 2-2 day as a positive step that can be taken to help prevent the onset 2-3 of the chronic diseases that are robbing this nation of its finest 2-4 natural resource, its people; now, therefore, be it 2-5 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 2-6 Legislature hereby express its support of the "5 a Day for Better 2-7 Health" program and encourage all Texans to improve their nutrition 2-8 as a chronic disease prevention measure.