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