S.C.R. No. 81
                             SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
    1-1        WHEREAS, Nutrition is the fundamental building block of
    1-2  individual health; and
    1-3        WHEREAS, Sound nutritional practices are a primary component
    1-4  of efforts to promote healthy lifestyles and to prevent illness,
    1-5  disease, and injury, especially among the young, the elderly, and
    1-6  certain ethnic and cultural groups; and
    1-7        WHEREAS, Medical nutrition therapy can slow the onset of and
    1-8  promote recovery from a wide variety of illnesses, diseases, and
    1-9  injuries; and
   1-10        WHEREAS, Eight of the 10 leading causes of death in America
   1-11  are related to diet, including heart disease, stroke, some types of
   1-12  cancer, kidney disease, and diabetes, and nutrition assessment and
   1-13  nutrition counseling are important components of risk reduction and
   1-14  disease management of these medical conditions; and
   1-15        WHEREAS, Medical nutrition therapy is well established as a
   1-16  cost-effective medium of health care, contributing to the reduction
   1-17  in the incidence of low-birth weight babies and saving two dollars
   1-18  in health care costs for mother and baby for every one dollar spent
   1-19  on prenatal care for high-risk indigent expectant mothers; and
   1-20        WHEREAS, More than 3,500 licensed dietitians, licensed and
   1-21  regulated by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Dietitians,
   1-22  provide nutrition services in a wide variety of settings all across
   1-23  the state, including schools and educational centers, hospitals,
    2-1  health clinics, nursing homes, kidney dialysis centers, research
    2-2  centers, and in the food and food service industries; and
    2-3        WHEREAS, Licensed and registered dietitians, all of whom hold
    2-4  at least a baccalaureate level degree in dietetics, nutrition, or
    2-5  similar fields and many of whom hold master's or doctoral level
    2-6  degrees, serve a vital role as members of the health care team,
    2-7  working with physicians and other health care professionals to
    2-8  provide high-quality health promotion and health care to the
    2-9  citizens of Texas; and
   2-10        WHEREAS, The dedication of a special day to focus attention
   2-11  on the benefits of nutrition education and sound nutrition
   2-12  practices will contribute to the well-being and health of the Texas
   2-13  public; now, therefore, be it
   2-14        RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas
   2-15  hereby designate March 9, 1995, as "Texas Dietetic Association
   2-16  Legislative Day" at the Capitol as an opportunity to encourage all
   2-17  Texans to further educate themselves about the critical role of
   2-18  sound nutrition practices in personal well-being and health; and,
   2-19  be it further
   2-20        RESOLVED, That the legislature hereby commend the Texas
   2-21  Dietetic Association and its members for their contributions to the
   2-22  health of the citizens of our state; and, be it further
   2-23        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   2-24  prepared for the Texas Dietetic Association as an expression of the
   2-25  high regard for the profession of dietetics by the Legislature of
    3-1  the State of Texas.