HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, Hospice care emerged in the United States during the
 1-2     1970s by combining the benefits of modern medicine with the dignity
 1-3     of the natural dying process to provide terminally ill patients the
 1-4     opportunity to live their final days in dignity; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, There are more than 3,000 hospices in the United
 1-6     States, served by 25,000 health care professionals and more than
 1-7     100,000 volunteers, that have provided care to more than one
 1-8     million Americans; and
 1-9           WHEREAS, More than 150 licensed hospices now serve Texans in
1-10     communities throughout the state, bringing hospice care to tens of
1-11     thousands of state residents; and
1-12           WHEREAS, In addition to managing medical care, hospices also
1-13     provide for the emotional and spiritual needs of patients and their
1-14     families through such support services as bereavement programs,
1-15     memorial services, and counseling; and
1-16           WHEREAS, Hospices furnish care to more than half of all
1-17     terminally ill cancer patients, as well as individuals coping with
1-18     heart and kidney disease, AIDS, and Alzheimer's disease; and
1-19           WHEREAS, The United States Postal Service has issued a
1-20     commemorative "Hospice Care" first class stamp in recognition of
1-21     the many patients, patient families, volunteers, and health care
1-22     professionals whose lives have been touched by the high quality,
1-23     compassionate care made available through hospice programs; and
1-24           WHEREAS, A celebration of the issuance of the "Hospice Care"
 2-1     stamp will be held on the south steps of the Texas State Capitol on
 2-2     Tuesday, February 9, 1999, at 11 a.m., to which all supporters of
 2-3     hospice are cordially invited; now, therefore, be it
 2-4           RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas
 2-5     hereby designate February 9, 1999, as "Texas Hospice Day" in honor
 2-6     of Texas hospice patients and their families and the hospice
 2-7     program's health care professionals and volunteers who serve them.
                                                                    Naishtat
                                                                        Gray
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.C.R. No. 61 was adopted by the House on
         February 9, 1999, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.C.R. No. 61 was adopted by the Senate on
         March 29, 1999, by a viva-voce vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  _____________________
                            Date
                    _____________________
                          Governor