1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 308 1-3 WHEREAS, Texas has the second largest rural population in 1-4 the nation, and the history of the Lone Star State is deeply rooted 1-5 in the ranches, small towns, and farms that continue to make up the 1-6 heart of Texas; and 1-7 WHEREAS, The 196 counties that are outside metropolitan 1-8 statistical areas are home to more than 15 percent of the state's 1-9 population, over three million residents; this constitutes a number 1-10 greater than the combined populations of Alaska, Delaware, 1-11 North Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming; and 1-12 WHEREAS, High-quality health care is essential for rural 1-13 areas, and through the years tremendous strides have been made in 1-14 the establishment and maintenance of a rural health network that 1-15 delivers quality services and care to distant population centers; 1-16 and 1-17 WHEREAS, The citizens of small Texas communities are 1-18 deserving of the best possible health care, and the statewide 1-19 network of providers and facilities in place today represents 1-20 exceptional efforts to that end; and 1-21 WHEREAS, There are, however, areas of the system where 1-22 efforts must be increased; the infant mortality rate for rural 1-23 Texas remains substantially higher than for its urban counterpart, 1-24 the chronic shortage of health care professionals in rural Texas 2-1 continues, and about 23 percent of rural Texans have no health 2-2 insurance; and 2-3 WHEREAS, A recent report to the governor and this 2-4 legislature from the Center for Rural Health Initiatives 2-5 highlights many great successes of the drive for rural health 2-6 care in Texas while also citing factors in need of improvement, 2-7 such as increased communication and cooperation between rural care 2-8 deliverers and greater utilization of alternative funding, 2-9 including grants and federal financial resources; and 2-10 WHEREAS, The rural health care delivery system in Texas 2-11 is critical to the well-being of this state, and rural physicians, 2-12 nurses, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and other staff, 2-13 along with rural hospitals, are the lifeblood of this essential 2-14 system; it is indeed appropriate to take this opportunity to 2-15 recognize their contributions and take note of the importance of 2-16 rural health care to all of Texas; now, therefore, be it 2-17 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-18 76th Legislature, hereby declare March 1 through 7, 1999, Rural 2-19 Health Care Week in Texas and express support for efforts that 2-20 enhance the vital service delivery system. 2-21 Madla 2-22 ______________________________________ 2-23 President of the Senate 2-24 I hereby certify that the above 2-25 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 2-26 on March 1, 1999. 2-27 ______________________________________ 2-28 Secretary of the Senate 2-29 ______________________________________ 2-30 Member, Texas Senate