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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, Baylor |
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College of Medicine has undertaken extraordinary efforts to track |
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and measure the impact of the virus, to research and develop |
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treatments and vaccines, and to provide the public with accurate |
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and up-to-date information as the crisis has progressed; and |
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WHEREAS, After the first case of COVID-19 was detected in the |
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United States on January 20, 2020, experts from Baylor College of |
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Medicine were invited by national and international media to share |
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their expertise; during the weeks that followed, the college's |
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administrators and faculty were sought out for guidance by city and |
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county officials, and the institution's leadership role continued |
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to grow as the scope and severity of the pandemic increased; Baylor |
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experts have since made appearances on a host of major television |
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networks and have been featured in numerous print publications, and |
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the college has published information guides about how to safely |
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operate schools and businesses; and |
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WHEREAS, Since Baylor researchers began focusing their |
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attention on the novel coronavirus, they have uncovered important |
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findings about the transmission of the virus, about the |
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characteristics of COVID-19, and about treatments for patients with |
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severe illness; they have submitted more than 140 applications for |
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COVID-19-related research studies, 25 of which were approved |
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treatment trials; in July 2020, the college was selected as one of |
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the sites for the Moderna vaccine's Phase 3 clinical trial, and |
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Baylor has also participated in trials for the Novavax and |
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Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines and in the development of a vaccine |
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candidate that is currently undergoing trials in India; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to pursuing research with global |
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implications, Baylor has partnered with local government agencies |
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to contain the spread of the virus; researchers with the college |
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have joined with Houston and Harris County public health |
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departments to conduct seroprevalence studies and wastewater |
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testing and to administer diagnostic tests to the public; to date, |
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Baylor has provided over 31,000 COVID-19 tests and administered |
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nearly 30,000 vaccines; and |
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WHEREAS, Baylor College of Medicine faculty and researchers |
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have answered the call to action during a complex and ever-evolving |
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global health crisis, and they are deserving of our lasting |
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gratitude for their hard work, their ingenuity, and their earnest |
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commitment to public health; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Baylor College of Medicine for its service |
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during the COVID-19 pandemic and extend sincere gratitude to all |
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those affiliated with the institution for their important work; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Baylor College of Medicine as an expression of high |
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regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |
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A. Johnson of Harris |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1125 was adopted by the House on May |
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14, 2021, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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