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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 792
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WHEREAS, Sufficient folic acid in women's diets before and |
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during pregnancy can reduce the risk of birth defects of the |
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brain and spinal cord known as neural tube defects; in the United |
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States, neural tube defects occur in about one out of every 1,000 |
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pregnancies; and |
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WHEREAS, Studies have shown that neural tube defects can be |
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prevented if women consume the proper amounts of folic acid |
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before becoming pregnant and during early pregnancy; and |
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WHEREAS, The Institute of Medicine's Food and Nutrition |
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Board, the United States Public Health Service, and the United |
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States Preventive Services Task Force have recommended that |
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women who are of reproductive age should consume 400 micrograms |
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of synthetic folic acid every day from a vitamin or from |
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fortified foods, in addition to eating a healthy diet rich in |
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natural sources of folate; and |
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WHEREAS, The March of Dimes found that while public |
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awareness is improving, many women still do not know the benefits |
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of regularly consuming folic acid; 84 percent of women have heard |
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of folic acid; 39 percent take a daily vitamin containing it; 20 |
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percent know that folic acid prevents birth defects, and 11 |
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percent know it should be taken before pregnancy; and |
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WHEREAS, The March of Dimes found that health |
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professionals have not been the main source of women's |
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information about folic acid and of women's awareness about folic |
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acid; 49 percent of women have learned about it from the media, |
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and 33 percent received their information from their physician or |
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other health care provider; and |
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WHEREAS, A public education campaign about the value of |
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folic acid in the diets of women of childbearing age would raise |
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awareness of this vital health issue and inform citizens |
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throughout the state, as well as state agencies, boards, and task |
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forces, about how women can lower their risk for birth defects; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 82nd |
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Legislature, hereby support a public education campaign on the |
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importance of folic acid in the diets of women of childbearing |
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age in order to help prevent neural tube and other birth defects; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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those working to increase public awareness about folic acid as an |
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expression of esteem from the Texas Senate. |
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Jackson |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on April 14, 2011. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |