75R16683 PFG-F
By Hirschi H.C.R. No. 286
Substitute the following for H.C.R. No. 286:
By Hirschi C.S.H.C.R. No. 286
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1-1 WHEREAS, The statutory mission of the Texas Department of
1-2 Health is to protect and promote the health of the citizens of this
1-3 state; and
1-4 WHEREAS, In fulfilling its mission, the agency administers
1-5 programs regarding the quality and delivery of health care, the
1-6 control and prevention of disease, and the preservation of consumer
1-7 health in accordance with both state and federal law; and
1-8 WHEREAS, In Texas, about 23 percent of the state's
1-9 population, or approximately three million Texans, smoke
1-10 cigarettes; and
1-11 WHEREAS, In Texas, although the sale of tobacco to anyone
1-12 under the age of 18 is prohibited, more than 300,000 children in
1-13 the 7th grade through 12th grade currently use tobacco; and
1-14 WHEREAS, In 1988, a U.S. Surgeon General report showed that
1-15 cigarettes and other forms of tobacco are addictive, that tobacco
1-16 users use tobacco regularly because they are addicted to nicotine,
1-17 and that most tobacco users find it difficult to quit due to this
1-18 addiction; and
1-19 WHEREAS, A 1992 survey found that approximately two-thirds of
1-20 adolescents who smoke said that they want to quit, and 70 percent
1-21 said they would not start smoking if they could make that choice
1-22 again; and
1-23 WHEREAS, According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control
1-24 and Prevention, one-third of persons with incomes below $20,000
2-1 smoke; and
2-2 WHEREAS, In 1995, five Texas cities ranked in the top 15
2-3 cities in the United States as having the highest density of likely
2-4 smokers: El Paso (ranked number one), San Antonio,
2-5 McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Brownsville-Harlingen-San Benito, and
2-6 Houston; and
2-7 WHEREAS, Each year, tobacco use is responsible for more than
2-8 419,000 deaths in the United States and more than 26,000 deaths in
2-9 Texas, which represents more than the combined number of deaths
2-10 from alcohol, AIDS, illegal drugs, accidents, and homicides; and
2-11 WHEREAS, Studies show that lung cancer mortality is highest
2-12 among adults who begin smoking before the age of 15; and
2-13 WHEREAS, Texas recognizes several reports by the U.S. Surgeon
2-14 General that state that smoking is responsible for 30 percent of
2-15 deaths from cancer, 82 percent of deaths from pulmonary disease, 21
2-16 percent of deaths from chronic heart disease, and 18 percent of
2-17 deaths from stroke; and
2-18 WHEREAS, A recent study found that use of tobacco products by
2-19 pregnant women results in 19,000 to 41,000 miscarriages per year
2-20 and 3,100 to 7,000 infant deaths per year; and
2-21 WHEREAS, In 1993, tobacco-related illnesses and deaths cost
2-22 Texas more than five billion dollars in direct health care costs
2-23 and in lost productivity; now, therefore, be it
2-24 RESOLVED, That the Texas Department of Health continue to
2-25 promote tobacco use prevention education and cessation programs;
2-26 and, be it further
2-27 RESOLVED, That the Texas Department of Health employ the
3-1 latest public health research and technological advances approved
3-2 by the Food and Drug Administration, with special emphasis on
3-3 high-risk populations under 200 percent of poverty; and, be it
3-4 further
3-5 RESOLVED, That the Texas Department of Health be encouraged
3-6 to partner with others, including, but not limited to, the American
3-7 Cancer Society, American Lung Association, American Heart
3-8 Association, Texas Medical Association, Texas Academy of Family
3-9 Physicians, Pharmaceutical Research Manufacturers Association,
3-10 Texas Osteopathic Association, Texas Pharmacy Association, Texas
3-11 Chiropractic Association, and Texas Hospital Association to ensure
3-12 that tobacco prevention education and cessation programs help
3-13 reduce the economic and human toll of tobacco use on the citizens
3-14 of Texas; and, be it further
3-15 RESOLVED, That the Texas Department of Health submit a full
3-16 report to the 76th Texas Legislature when it convenes in January
3-17 1999 of the agency's activities and findings relevant to this
3-18 resolution and its recommendations for reducing tobacco use in
3-19 Texas; and, be it further
3-20 RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official
3-21 copy of this resolution to the commissioner of the Texas Department
3-22 of Health. BEGCAPTION
3-23 Directing the Texas Department of Health to promote tobacco use
3-24 prevention and cessation programs.
3-25 ENDCAPTION