1-1                                     1                                  
 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 56
 1-3           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas recognizes that
 1-4     asthma is a debilitating ailment which affects the quality of
 1-5     life of more than one million Texans; and
 1-6           WHEREAS, Asthma is a chronic condition where blocked or
 1-7     narrowed airways cause sufferers to experience coughing,
 1-8     wheezing, and chest tightness; it can be effectively managed
 1-9     by simple prevention and control techniques, such as properly
1-10     using medications and avoiding environmental triggers; and
1-11           WHEREAS, Asthma results in significant losses in worker
1-12     productivity, health care resources, and school attendance; the
1-13     annual cost of asthma to Texas has risen to more than $750 million;
1-14     and
1-15           WHEREAS, Asthma is particularly devastating to children,
1-16     causing one of every six pediatric emergency visits and ranking
1-17     third among the causes of hospitalization for children under the
1-18     age of 15; and
1-19           WHEREAS, The Asthma Coalition of Texas, a broad partnership
1-20     of members from health care professions, public education, public
1-21     health, patient advocacy, environmental agencies, insurance
1-22     providers, and employers, aims to help Texans with asthma
1-23     attain optimal health; and
 2-1           WHEREAS, Through its Texas Asthma Plan, the coalition will
 2-2     promote measures to manage asthma while lowering the total health
 2-3     care costs it causes; and
 2-4           WHEREAS, Asthma poses a significant health risk to a great
 2-5     many Texans; the efforts of the Asthma Coalition of Texas to
 2-6     educate the public about this ailment constitute a valuable
 2-7     public health service and are indeed worthy of commendation;
 2-8     now, therefore, be it
 2-9           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
2-10     77th Legislature, hereby commend the Asthma Coalition of Texas
2-11     for its efforts to improve asthma care, reduce the economic burden
2-12     of asthma upon Texas communities, and eliminate preventable deaths
2-13     caused by asthma; and, be it further
2-14           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in honor
2-15     of the Asthma Coalition of Texas as an expression of appreciation
2-16     from the Texas Senate.
2-17                                                                Moncrief
2-18                                  ______________________________________
2-19                                          President of the Senate
2-20                                       I hereby certify that the above
2-21                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
2-22                                  on January 30, 2001.
2-23                                  ______________________________________
2-24                                          Secretary of the Senate
2-25                                  ______________________________________
2-26                                           Member, Texas Senate