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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Texas has one of the highest rates of birth to |
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teenagers in the nation and the highest rate of repeat births to |
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teenagers; and |
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WHEREAS, A teenager gets pregnant every 10 minutes in Texas, |
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and 14 percent of all births in the state are to teenage mothers; |
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from 1991 through 2004, there were 745,000 births to Texas teens, |
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costing taxpayers some $15.1 billion; and |
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WHEREAS, While nationally the teen birthrate declined 34 |
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percent between 1991 and 2005, it rose by 5 percent between 2005 and |
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2007; and |
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WHEREAS, Teenage pregnancy and birth profoundly affect both |
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mother and child; because teen mothers are less likely to receive |
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prenatal care, they are more likely to deliver infants with low |
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birth weight; these infants are subsequently at greater risk for a |
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variety of diseases and disabilities; teenage mothers, on the other |
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hand, are especially vulnerable to dropping out of school, living |
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in poverty, and requiring public assistance; and |
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WHEREAS, Thousands of teens across the country are |
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participating in the eighth annual National Day to Prevent Teen |
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Pregnancy, the purpose of which is to focus the attention of teens |
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on the importance of avoiding pregnancy and parenthood at too early |
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an age; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize May 6, 2009, as the National Day to |
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Prevent Teen Pregnancy and encourage all Texas teenagers to learn |
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more about preventing pregnancy. |