R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, Texas has the second largest rural population in the
 1-2     nation, and the history of the Lone Star State is deeply rooted in
 1-3     the ranches, small towns, and farms that continue to make up the
 1-4     heart of Texas; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, The 196 counties that are outside metropolitan
 1-6     statistical areas are home to more than 15 percent of the state's
 1-7     population, over three million residents; this constitutes a number
 1-8     greater than the combined populations of Alaska, Delaware, North
 1-9     Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming; and
1-10           WHEREAS, High quality health care is essential for rural
1-11     areas, and through the years tremendous strides have been made in
1-12     the establishment and maintenance of a rural health network that
1-13     delivers services and care to distant population centers; and
1-14           WHEREAS, The citizens of small Texas communities are
1-15     deserving of the best possible health care, and the statewide
1-16     network of providers and facilities in place today represents
1-17     exceptional efforts to that end; and
1-18           WHEREAS, There are, however, areas of the system where
1-19     efforts must be increased; the infant mortality rate for rural
1-20     Texas remains substantially higher than for its urban counterpart,
1-21     the chronic shortage of health care professionals in rural Texas
1-22     continues, and about 23 percent of rural Texans have no health
1-23     insurance; and
1-24           WHEREAS, A recent report to the governor and this legislature
 2-1     from the Center for Rural Health Initiatives highlights many great
 2-2     successes of the drive for rural health care in Texas, while also
 2-3     citing needed improvements, such as increased communication and
 2-4     cooperation between rural care deliverers and greater utilization
 2-5     of alternative funding, including grants and federal financial
 2-6     resources; and
 2-7           WHEREAS, The rural health care delivery system in Texas is
 2-8     critical to the well-being of this state, and rural physicians,
 2-9     nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and other staff,
2-10     along with rural hospitals, are the lifeblood of this essential
2-11     system; it is indeed appropriate to take this opportunity to
2-12     recognize their contributions and take note of the importance of
2-13     rural health care to all of Texas; now, therefore, be it
2-14           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th
2-15     Legislature of the State of Texas hereby declare March 1-7, 1999,
2-16     Rural Health Care Week in Texas and express support for efforts
2-17     that enhance this vital service delivery system.
                                                           Turner of Coleman
                                             _______________________________
                                                   Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.R. No. 284 was adopted by the House on March
         1, 1999, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House