1-1 By: Coleman (Senate Sponsor - Moncrief) H.C.R. No. 223 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 7, 2001; 1-3 May 7, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on Health 1-4 and Human Services; May 11, 2001, reported favorably by the 1-5 following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 11, 2001, sent to printer.) 1-6 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-7 WHEREAS, Calcium deficient diets are clearly associated with 1-8 many health disorders, including osteoporosis, hypertension, 1-9 preeclampsia, and colon cancer; and 1-10 WHEREAS, According to the Centers for Disease Control and 1-11 Prevention, calcium deficient diets are an epidemic in America, 1-12 such that more than 50 percent of today's children cannot or will 1-13 not get their recommended daily intake of calcium; and 1-14 WHEREAS, Bones grow and incorporate calcium most rapidly 1-15 during the teen years, with approximately 90 percent of adult bone 1-16 mass being formed by age 17, but only 13 percent of teenage girls 1-17 get the calcium necessary to develop strong bones that support full 1-18 growth; and 1-19 WHEREAS, The National Institute of Child Health and Human 1-20 Development recognizes inadequate calcium consumption among 1-21 children and adolescents to be a growing problem and a serious 1-22 threat to their later health, growth, and development; and 1-23 WHEREAS, Certain foods, such as soft drinks or salt, rob the 1-24 body of calcium or increase its calcium need, and as a result many 1-25 children do not meet their body's requirement for calcium because 1-26 foods and beverages rich in calcium are being displaced by less 1-27 nutritious and wholesome fare; and 1-28 WHEREAS, Children can increase their calcium intake by 1-29 modifying their diet and beginning healthful eating habits while 1-30 they are young; now, therefore, be it 1-31 RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas 1-32 hereby acknowledge that calcium and vitamin D deficiencies are an 1-33 epidemic among Texas children, and that Texas primary and secondary 1-34 schools should offer students more calcium-rich foods and beverages 1-35 in their lunch and snack bar programs; and, be it further 1-36 RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas 1-37 hereby direct the Texas Department of Health to prepare a list of 1-38 available foods and beverages that are naturally fortified with 1-39 calcium and vitamin D and forward the list, along with a copy of 1-40 this resolution, to the Texas Education Agency and to every school 1-41 superintendent, school board, Parent-Teacher Association, and 1-42 primary and secondary school in the state; and, be it further 1-43 RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official 1-44 copy of this resolution to the chair of the Texas Board of Health, 1-45 to the commissioner of health of the Texas Department of Health, to 1-46 the commissioner of education of the Texas Education Agency, and to 1-47 every school superintendent, school board, and Parent-Teacher 1-48 Association in the state. 1-49 * * * * *