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.