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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 536
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WHEREAS, The dangers of drunk driving and underage |
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drinking are issues of concern to every Texan; and |
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WHEREAS, While concerted law enforcement and education |
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efforts have done much to curb drunk driving over the past few |
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decades, more than 10,000 alcohol-related deaths still occur on |
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our nation's roadways each year; and |
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WHEREAS, A total of 1,468 Texans died in drunk driving |
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crashes in 2017; although this number is above the national |
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average, alcohol-impaired driving fatalities overall have been |
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on the decline at both the state and national levels, and our |
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state has seen a 7.5 percent decrease in such fatalities among |
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drivers under the age of 21 in the last decade alone; and |
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WHEREAS, The State of Texas has worked to reduce the |
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incidence of impaired driving through the use of DWI courts, law |
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enforcement training, No Refusal campaigns, ignition interlock |
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devices, alcoholism treatment, and other lifesaving |
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countermeasures; and |
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WHEREAS, Underage drinking, which continues to be a |
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persistent problem despite a decline to record-low levels in |
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2018, is an area of particular focus for our state; the number of |
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Texans between the ages of 12 and 20 reporting alcohol |
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consumption in the past month is now around 17 percent, a |
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decrease of 36 percent since 2008, and the continued cooperation |
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of state law enforcement agencies, alcohol awareness |
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organizations, and responsible parents can play an instrumental |
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role in ensuring that our youth avoid impaired driving; and |
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WHEREAS, Research shows that parents can help prevent |
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underage drinking and alcohol abuse by beginning conversations |
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with their children about alcohol use at an early age and by |
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continuing to speak with them about the issue throughout |
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childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood; with the help of |
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Responsibility.org and other organizations, 73 percent of |
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teenagers now identify parents as the leading influence in their |
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decisions regarding alcohol, representing a 33 percent increase |
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since 1991; and |
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WHEREAS, The recognition of April as Alcohol |
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Responsibility Month offers a welcome opportunity to call |
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attention to the work that must be done to further reduce the |
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tragic impact of drunk driving and underage drinking in Texas; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th |
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Legislature, hereby recognize April 2019 as Alcohol |
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Responsibility Month and encourage all Texans to make |
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responsible decisions regarding the consumption of alcohol and |
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to support efforts to reduce drunk driving and underage drinking. |
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Hancock |
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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 4, 2019. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |