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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 255
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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; such medical |
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authorities as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American |
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College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the United |
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States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention all strongly |
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recommend breastfeeding, and the United States surgeon general |
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has issued a call to 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 |
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of 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, breastfeeding reduces the risk of |
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sudden infant death syndrome, and children who are breastfed for |
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six months are less likely to become obese; mothers who breastfeed |
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their children also have a decreased risk of breast and ovarian |
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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 |
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for both acute and chronic illnesses; Texas, with its high rates |
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of 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 |
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in 1995 affirming the right of a mother to breastfeed her baby in |
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any location in which the mother is authorized to be, |
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breastfeeding mothers continue to face discrimination and often |
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experience a lack 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 |
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its efforts to educate the public and to improve support for |
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breastfeeding, and a special day to spotlight its endeavors is |
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most fitting; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th |
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Legislature, hereby recognize February 22, 2017, as Texas |
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Breastfeeding Coalition Legislative Action Day at the State |
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Capitol and extend to all those participating sincere best |
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wishes for the future. |
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Zaffirini |
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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 February 21, 2017. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |