| 1 | 1 | | 25 LC 112 2893 |
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| 2 | 2 | | House Resolution 197 |
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| 3 | 3 | | By: Representative Dubnik of the 29 |
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| 4 | 4 | | th |
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| 5 | 5 | | |
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| 6 | 6 | | A RESOLUTION |
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| 7 | 7 | | Recognizing February 6, 2025, as Strolling Thunder Day at the state capitol; and for other |
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| 8 | 8 | | 1 |
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| 9 | 9 | | purposes.2 |
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| 10 | 10 | | WHEREAS, our brains grow faster during the first few years of life than at any later point3 |
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| 11 | 11 | | in our lives; and4 |
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| 12 | 12 | | WHEREAS, more than 635,000 children under five years old reside in communities across5 |
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| 13 | 13 | | Georgia, representing the state's future leaders; and6 |
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| 14 | 14 | | WHEREAS, children's early experiences and relationships lay the foundation for future7 |
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| 15 | 15 | | learning, health, and behavior; and8 |
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| 16 | 16 | | WHEREAS, proper nutrition, medical care, and high-quality early education are all essential9 |
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| 17 | 17 | | building blocks for a child's development; and10 |
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| 18 | 18 | | WHEREAS, Georgia has made gains in supporting young children and their families in11 |
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| 19 | 19 | | recent years, including an historic investment in Georgia's Lottery-Funded Pre-K, an12 |
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| 20 | 20 | | increased emphasis on early childhood mental health, and increased supports for maternal13 |
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| 21 | 21 | | health and well-being; and14 |
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| 22 | 22 | | H. R. 197 |
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| 23 | 23 | | - 1 - 25 LC 112 2893 |
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| 24 | 24 | | WHEREAS, despite this, many of Georgia's families with young children continue to |
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| 25 | 25 | | 15 |
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| 26 | 26 | | struggle to meet high standards of health, education, and family stability; and16 |
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| 27 | 27 | | WHEREAS, for example, nearly one in five of Georgia's children under five years old live17 |
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| 28 | 28 | | in poverty, and one in ten of its babies are born with low birth weight; and18 |
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| 29 | 29 | | WHEREAS, GEEARS: Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students, a nonprofit19 |
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| 30 | 30 | | organization, has brought together families from across Georgia to share the joys and20 |
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| 31 | 31 | | challenges of raising young children with Georgia's lawmakers for Strolling Thunder Day21 |
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| 32 | 32 | | at the state capitol; and22 |
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| 33 | 33 | | WHEREAS, Strolling Thunder Day emphasizes the importance of prioritizing our youngest23 |
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| 34 | 34 | | learners in public policy for stronger families, vibrant communities, and a prosperous state;24 |
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| 35 | 35 | | and25 |
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| 36 | 36 | | WHEREAS, Georgia's future begins with babies, and all Georgians can help make sure that26 |
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| 37 | 37 | | families have the resources and support they need to give their babies a strong start in life.27 |
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| 38 | 38 | | NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that28 |
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| 39 | 39 | | the members of this body recognize February 6, 2025, as Strolling Thunder Day at the state29 |
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| 40 | 40 | | capitol.30 |
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| 41 | 41 | | BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized31 |
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| 42 | 42 | | and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the32 |
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| 43 | 43 | | public and the press.33 |
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| 44 | 44 | | H. R. 197 |
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| 45 | 45 | | - 2 - |
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