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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Texas Medical Association physicians, resident |
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physicians, medical students, and Alliance members are visiting the |
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State Capitol on the first Tuesday of every month during the 81st |
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Texas Legislature to discuss issues of importance to the medical |
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profession; and |
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WHEREAS, The TMA and the TMA Alliance began the First |
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Tuesdays program at the State Capitol in 2003; and |
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WHEREAS, During each session since then, TMA physicians, TMA |
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Alliance members, residents, and medical students have come to |
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Austin from across Texas to visit their senators and |
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representatives to discuss the association's legislative agenda; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The First Tuesdays at the Capitol program has grown |
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steadily and has become a resounding success; the number of "white |
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coats" walking the halls of the Capitol makes a big impression, as |
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physicians advocate policy solutions to improve health care |
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delivery for their patients; and |
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WHEREAS, The Texas Medical Association and the Texas Medical |
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Association Alliance work together to train, provide policy and |
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legislative briefings, and provide support to all First Tuesday |
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participants so that they are able to educate senators and |
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representatives and their staffs about TMA's legislative |
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proposals; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2009, those taking part in First Tuesdays at the |
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Capitol will discuss the need for health insurance reform, for |
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protecting medical liability reforms, to improve funding and reduce |
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administrative burdens for the Medicaid and CHIP programs, to |
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increase patient safety, and for keeping new medical school |
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graduates in Texas; they will also discuss finding constructive |
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solutions to reducing obesity, increasing immunizations, and |
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dealing with other public health issues; and |
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WHEREAS, April 7, 2009, is the day set aside for medical |
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students and residents, those representing the next generation of |
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Texas physicians, to share their ideas on improving medical care |
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and on helping Texas continue to be the best state in which to |
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practice medicine; and |
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WHEREAS, The "White Coat Invasions" on February 3, March 3, |
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April 7, and May 5, 2009, allow the skilled and hardworking |
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physicians of Texas the opportunity to make their concerns known |
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directly to their elected representatives, and this monthly event |
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is truly worthy of recognition; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby welcome the participants in the First Tuesdays |
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at the Capitol program of the Texas Medical Association and the |
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Texas Medical Association Alliance and extend best wishes to the |
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medical care professionals who are giving their time to this |
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important endeavor. |