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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Members of the Texas Breastfeeding Coalition are |
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visiting the State Capitol on February 22, 2017; and |
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WHEREAS, Dedicated to improving breastfeeding rates, the |
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coalition works to promote a public environment that accepts and |
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supports mothers in this healthy practice; medical authorities such |
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as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of |
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Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the United States Centers for |
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Disease Control and Prevention all strongly recommend |
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breastfeeding, and the U.S. surgeon general has issued a call to |
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action in this regard; and |
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WHEREAS, According to the CDC, breastfeeding is one of the |
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most effective measures a mother can take to protect the health of |
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her infant; breastfeeding protects babies from a wide range of |
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infections and illnesses, and breastfed babies are less likely to |
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develop asthma; in addition, it reduces the risk of sudden infant |
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death syndrome, and children who are breastfed for six months are |
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less likely to become obese; mothers who breastfeed also have a |
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decreased risk of breast and ovarian cancers; and |
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WHEREAS, Cost-benefit analyses performed by private |
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researchers and by the federal government have found that |
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breastfeeding reduces costs to the nation's health care system for |
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both acute and chronic illnesses; Texas, with its high rates of |
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obesity and diabetes, stands to benefit significantly by |
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encouraging more mothers to breastfeed; and |
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WHEREAS, Despite the vital advantages conferred by |
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breastfeeding, mothers do not always receive the evidence-based, |
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qualified clinical lactation support they need, and some current |
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hospital practices make it more difficult to establish successful |
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breastfeeding; moreover, although the state passed legislation in |
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1995 affirming the right of a mother to breastfeed her baby in any |
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location in which the mother is authorized to be, breastfeeding |
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mothers continue to face discrimination and often experience a lack |
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of support at work and in public places; and |
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WHEREAS, The Texas Breastfeeding Coalition is making a |
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positive difference in the lives of women and children through its |
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efforts to educate the public and improve support for |
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breastfeeding, and a special day to spotlight its endeavors is most |
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fitting; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize February 22, 2017, as Texas |
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Breastfeeding Coalition Legislative Action Day at the State Capitol |
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and extend to all those participating sincere best wishes for the |
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future. |