Texas House Bill HCR171

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Introduced: 4/8/09
• Refer: 4/16/09
• Report Pass: 5/1/09
• Refer: 5/12/09

Caption

Memorializing Congress to direct the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to establish a public health region for the counties along the Texas-Mexico border.

Impact

This bill seeks to address the disparities in public health funding and resources exacerbated by the federal government's current allocation methods, which are often based solely on population numbers rather than actual health needs. Establishing a designated public health region in the border area would facilitate a more effective public health response and enable local health entities to receive the necessary support for disease prevention and control. Its passage would mean a reallocation of federal resources that could better address the health vulnerabilities of border communities, thereby enhancing overall public health standards both locally and nationally.

Summary

HCR171 is a concurrent resolution introduced by Representative Guillen in the Texas legislature, urging Congress to direct the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to establish a public health region specifically for the counties along the Texas-Mexico border. The bill highlights the unique health challenges faced by these communities, which include a high frequency of infectious diseases and chronic health issues, alongside environmental hazards like pollution. Given the region's significant cross-border population movement, the resolution emphasizes the urgent need for dedicated federal funding and resources to improve public health infrastructures in these areas.

Contention

While the resolution itself does not seem to be highly contentious, it does imply an ongoing conversation about federal involvement in state and local health matters. Critics might express concerns regarding the efficiency and adequacy of federal funding, as well as the effectiveness of such regional designations. Ensuring that health needs are adequately addressed without further bureaucratic complications is likely to be a central point of discussion among legislators and stakeholders. The bill represents a call for recognition of the specific public health scenarios present in the Texas-Mexico border, an area often overshadowed in broader health policy discussions.