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Regular Session, 2013 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 86
BY SENATOR HEITMEIER
A RESOLUTION
To recognize Tuesday, May 7, 2013, as March of Dimes Day at the Louisiana State Capitol.
WHEREAS, the March of Dimes was founded in 1938 by President Franklin D.
Roosevelt and during its early years supported the development of a vaccine that has nearly
eliminated the crippling disease of polio; and
WHEREAS, aided by the work and resources of the March of Dimes, there has not
been a single outbreak of polio in our country in more than thirty years; and
WHEREAS, the March of Dimes has worked and utilized its resources to rid the
world of rubella; and
WHEREAS, through the financial support of the March of Dimes, four of the
required twenty-nine newborn screening tests required in Louisiana were developed; and
WHEREAS, in Louisiana approximately sixty-three thousand babies are born each
year and close to nine thousand four hundred of those babies being born prematurely; and
WHEREAS, preterm birth is the greatest contributing factor to newborns dying
within their first month of life; and
WHEREAS, the March of Dimes is leading a state and national effort to prevent
preterm birth by funding research to find the causes of this public health problem, supporting
local programs that offer hope and help to families with an infant in intensive care, and
advocating for public policies that will improve the quality of care for newborns; and
WHEREAS, on May 7, 2013, volunteers and staff of the March of Dimes from across
the state are visiting the Louisiana State Capitol to celebrate the March of Dimes' seventy-
fifth anniversary and to raise awareness about the need to protect Louisiana babies and to
advocate for policies that improve the quality of care of Louisiana newborns.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby recognize Tuesday, May 7, 2013, as March of Dimes Day at the Louisiana State
Capitol. SR NO. 86 ENROLLED
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all Louisiana citizens are hereby encouraged to
support the March of Dimes in its efforts to find the causes of preterm birth, to support the
development and use of vaccines, which are the most effective means of preventing
infectious diseases, and newborn screenings for stronger, healthier babies in Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
state director and the state director of program services and governmental affairs of the
March of Dimes Louisiana Chapter.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE