By Coleman                                           H.C.R. No. 223
         77R9766 MKS-D                           
                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, Calcium deficient diets are clearly associated with
 1-2     many health disorders, including osteoporosis, hypertension,
 1-3     preeclampsia, and colon cancer; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, According to the Centers for Disease Control and
 1-5     Prevention, calcium deficient diets are an epidemic in America,
 1-6     such that more than 50 percent of today's children cannot or will
 1-7     not get their recommended daily intake of calcium; and
 1-8           WHEREAS, Bones grow and incorporate calcium most rapidly
 1-9     during the teen years, with approximately 90 percent of adult bone
1-10     mass being formed by age 17, but only 13 percent of teenage girls
1-11     get the calcium necessary to develop strong bones that support full
1-12     growth; and
1-13           WHEREAS, The National Institute of Child Health and Human
1-14     Development recognizes inadequate calcium consumption among
1-15     children and adolescents to be a growing problem and a serious
1-16     threat to their later health, growth, and development; and
1-17           WHEREAS, Certain foods, such as soft drinks or salt, rob the
1-18     body of calcium or increase its calcium need, and as a result many
1-19     children do not meet their body's requirement for calcium because
1-20     foods and beverages rich in calcium are being displaced by less
1-21     nutritious and wholesome fare; and
1-22           WHEREAS, Children can increase their calcium intake by
1-23     modifying their diet and beginning healthful eating habits while
1-24     they are young; now, therefore, be it
 2-1           RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas
 2-2     hereby acknowledge that calcium deficiencies are an epidemic among
 2-3     Texas children, and that Texas primary and secondary schools should
 2-4     offer students more calcium-rich foods and beverages in their lunch
 2-5     and snack bar programs; and, be it further
 2-6           RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas
 2-7     hereby direct the Texas Department of Health to prepare a list of
 2-8     available foods and beverages that are naturally fortified with
 2-9     calcium and forward the list, along with a copy of this resolution,
2-10     to the Texas Education Agency and to each primary and secondary
2-11     school in the state; and, be it further
2-12           RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official
2-13     copy of this resolution to the chair of the Texas Board of Health,
2-14     to the commissioner of health of the Texas Department of Health,
2-15     and to the commissioner of education of the Texas Education Agency.