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Regular Session, 2013
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 86
BY SENATOR HEITMEIER
SENATE. Recognizes Tuesday, May 7, 2013, as March of Dimes Day at the Louisiana State
Capitol.
A RESOLUTION1
To recognize Tuesday, May 7, 2013, as March of Dimes Day at the Louisiana State Capitol.2
WHEREAS, the March of Dimes was founded in 1938 by President Franklin D.3
Roosevelt and during its early years supported the development of a vaccine that has nearly4
eliminated the crippling disease of polio; and5
WHEREAS, aided by the work and resources of the March of Dimes, there has not6
been a single outbreak of polio in our country in more than thirty years; and7
WHEREAS, the March of Dimes has worked and utilized its resources to rid the8
world of rubella; and9
WHEREAS, through the financial support of the March of Dimes, four of the10
required twenty-nine newborn screening tests required in Louisiana were developed; and11
WHEREAS, in Louisiana approximately sixty-three thousand babies are born each12
year and close to nine thousand four hundred of those babies being born prematurely; and13
WHEREAS, preterm birth is the greatest contributing factor to newborns dying14
within their first month of life; and15
WHEREAS, the March of Dimes is leading a state and national effort to prevent16
preterm birth by funding research to find the causes of this public health problem, supporting17
local programs that offer hope and help to families with an infant in intensive care, and18 SR NO. 86
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advocating for public policies that will improve the quality of care for newborns; and1
WHEREAS, on May 7, 2013, volunteers and staff of the March of Dimes from across2
the state are visiting the Louisiana State Capitol to celebrate the March of Dimes' seventy-3
fifth anniversary and to raise awareness about the need to protect Louisiana babies and to4
advocate for policies that improve the quality of care of Louisiana newborns.5
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana6
does hereby recognize Tuesday, May 7, 2013, as March of Dimes Day at the Louisiana State7
Capitol.8
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all Louisiana citizens are hereby encouraged to9
support the March of Dimes in its efforts to find the causes of preterm birth, to support the10
development and use of vaccines, which are the most effective means of preventing11
infectious diseases, and newborn screenings for stronger, healthier babies in Louisiana.12
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the13
state director and the state director of program services and governmental affairs of the14
March of Dimes Louisiana Chapter.15
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Christopher D. Adams.
DIGEST
Heitmeier SR No. 86
Recognizes Tuesday, May 7, 2013, as March of Dimes Day at the Louisiana State Capitol.