81R31394 CBE-D
By: Castro H.R. No. 2062
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Texas has one of the highest rates of birth to
teenagers in the nation and the highest rate of repeat births to
teenagers; and
WHEREAS, A teenager gets pregnant every 10 minutes in Texas,
and 14 percent of all births in the state are to teenage mothers;
from 1991 through 2004, there were 745,000 births to Texas teens,
costing taxpayers some $15.1 billion; and
WHEREAS, While nationally the teen birthrate declined 34
percent between 1991 and 2005, it rose by 5 percent between 2005 and
2007; and
WHEREAS, Teenage pregnancy and birth profoundly affect both
mother and child; because teen mothers are less likely to receive
prenatal care, they are more likely to deliver infants with low
birth weight; these infants are subsequently at greater risk for a
variety of diseases and disabilities; teenage mothers, on the other
hand, are especially vulnerable to dropping out of school, living
in poverty, and requiring public assistance; and
WHEREAS, Thousands of teens across the country are
participating in the eighth annual National Day to Prevent Teen
Pregnancy, the purpose of which is to focus the attention of teens
on the importance of avoiding pregnancy and parenthood at too early
an age; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby recognize May 6, 2009, as the National Day to
Prevent Teen Pregnancy and encourage all Texas teenagers to learn
more about preventing pregnancy.