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SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of Texas is proud to |
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welcome members of the Texas Organization of Rural and Community |
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Hospitals, also known as TORCH, and members of the Texas Rural |
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Health Association on their visit to the State Capitol on March 4, |
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2009; and |
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WHEREAS, These two organizations work on behalf of the |
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citizens of rural Texas and are dedicated to ensuring that rural |
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Texans have equal access to hospital and health care services as |
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well as timely emergency care; and |
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WHEREAS, These two organizations consist of the rural |
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hospitals, clinics, health providers, and health professions |
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schools that provide the professional care and the trained |
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workforce for the health care needs of our state's 3.5 million rural |
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citizens; and |
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WHEREAS, A large part of Texas is rural and medically |
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underserved; there are 177 rural counties, 50 of which do not have a |
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hospital and 99 of which have only one hospital; 112 Texas rural |
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counties have been designated as health professional shortage |
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areas; and |
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WHEREAS, The health care needs of rural Texans are of |
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importance to the whole state, because rural Texas is the source for |
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the food, fuel, and fiber of our great state; and |
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WHEREAS, The issues that rural hospitals and other rural |
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health care providers face are critical and complex, and the Texas |
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Organization of Rural and Community Hospitals and Texas Rural |
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Health Association are valuable advocates for these important |
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members of our state's health care system and for the residents of |
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rural Texas; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby welcome the members of the Texas Organization of Rural and |
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Community Hospitals and the Texas Rural Health Association to the |
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Capitol and commend all those associated with these valuable |
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organizations for their work on behalf of the Lone Star State's |
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rural hospitals and health care providers; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared in their |
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honor. |