1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 750 1-3 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas recognizes the 1-4 vital importance of ensuring the health and well-being of 1-5 newborn Texans and wishes to declare the week of February 4 1-6 through February 10, 2002, as Texas Newborn Babies Week; and 1-7 WHEREAS, Proper health care during infancy is important to 1-8 an individual's long-term health, and it is of critical importance 1-9 that the Texas public have proper access to perinatal and infant 1-10 care; and 1-11 WHEREAS, In 1990, the Center for Disease Control and 1-12 Prevention introduced a set of 18 Health Status Indicators; 1-13 several are related directly to maternal and infant health, 1-14 including infant mortality rate, low-birth weight, adolescent 1-15 births, availability of prenatal care, and childhood poverty; and 1-16 WHEREAS, The current infant mortality rate in Texas is 6.4 1-17 deaths per 1,000 live births, which is only slightly below the 1-18 national average, and Texas public health regions one through 1-19 six rank first in the nation for infant mortality; and 1-20 WHEREAS, Adolescent mothers and their babies are more likely 1-21 to experience barriers to health care, and the Texas birth rate for 2-1 mothers less than 18 years of age more than doubled from 1992 to 2-2 1997, making it the state with the ninth highest adolescent birth 2-3 rate; and 2-4 WHEREAS, Texas ranks second in the nation in the percentage 2-5 of women not receiving prenatal care in the first trimester, a 2-6 critical period in an infant's development; the state also ranks 2-7 above the national average for number of children who live in homes 2-8 with an income below the national poverty level; and 2-9 WHEREAS, Texas Newborn Babies Week will help focus the 2-10 public's attention on both the importance of prenatal and infant 2-11 health care, and the need for improved access to health services 2-12 for expectant and new mothers; and 2-13 WHEREAS, The week will also serve to educate the public on 2-14 such infant health risks as Shaken Baby Syndrome and Sudden Infant 2-15 Death Syndrome and to increase awareness of the importance of 2-16 childhood immunizations; and 2-17 WHEREAS, By educating the public on the need and availability 2-18 of prenatal care, Texas Newborn Babies Week will help ensure the 2-19 health of the youngest Texas citizens; now, therefore, be it 2-20 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-21 77th Legislature, hereby designate the week of February 4 2-22 through February 10, 2002, as Texas Newborn Babies Week and 2-23 extend best wishes to those organizing this campaign; and, 3-1 be it further 3-2 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in 3-3 honor of this vital public health initiative. 3-4 Wentworth 3-5 Zaffirini 3-6 ______________________________________ 3-7 President of the Senate 3-8 I hereby certify that the above 3-9 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 3-10 on April 18, 2001. 3-11 ______________________________________ 3-12 Secretary of the Senate 3-13 ______________________________________ 3-14 Member, Texas Senate 3-15 ______________________________________ 3-16 Member, Texas Senate