By Wilson                                            H.C.R. No. 282

         75R15347 JTR-F                           

                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, Public awareness of health needs and the promotion

 1-2     of healthy lifestyles and parental involvement with their children

 1-3     is necessary for a productive society; and

 1-4           WHEREAS, Men are reluctant to seek medical attention for

 1-5     physical ailments or depression because of socialization, fear, and

 1-6     lack of information, resulting in higher death rates at all ages

 1-7     for cancer and heart disease, and leading to higher rates of

 1-8     suicide and dependency on drugs and alcohol; and

 1-9           WHEREAS, Increasing men's awareness of their health needs and

1-10     encouraging them to engage in healthy lifestyles is a concern for

1-11     the women in their lives and allows them to be productive family

1-12     members and productive members of society; and

1-13           WHEREAS, Boys are at high risk for school dropout and drug

1-14     usage, and are less likely to enroll in or graduate from college;

1-15     and

1-16           WHEREAS, Men are increasingly separated from their families

1-17     by work and family dissolution and promoting paternal involvement

1-18     has positive effects on children's development; and

1-19           WHEREAS, Measures that strengthen home life and promote

1-20     paternal involvement with children will advance the welfare of the

1-21     state; now, therefore, be it

1-22           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

1-23     hereby request that the governor appoint a Commission on Men to

1-24     identify, assess, and develop strategies for men and boys,

 2-1     including community outreach activities, public-private

 2-2     partnerships, and coordination of community and state resources, to

 2-3     examine the causes of and recommend solutions to these problems;

 2-4     and, be it further

 2-5           RESOLVED, That the Commission on Men shall be composed of 24

 2-6     members, including medical and academic experts, community leaders,

 2-7     and leaders of organizations, each of whom has expertise in the

 2-8     area of men's health or family involvement, to develop strategies

 2-9     and advocate programs and activities for enhancing the

2-10     participation of men and boys in healthy behaviors, academic

2-11     achievement, and involvement with family; and, be it further

2-12           RESOLVED, That the Commission on Men will hold workshops

2-13     around the state to identify issues affecting men's health and

2-14     family participation and will recommend assistance, services, and

2-15     state policies that will further the goals of the commission,

2-16     participate with established task forces and policy groups, and

2-17     monitor federal and state legislation and public policy that may

2-18     affect those issues; and, be it further

2-19           RESOLVED, That the Commission on Men shall submit a report of

2-20     its findings and recommendations to the Texas Legislature by

2-21     October 1 of each even-numbered year.