83R5524 LB-D
By: Crownover H.R. No. 268
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The March of Dimes Foundation is celebrating its
75th anniversary during 2013; and
WHEREAS, Established by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in
1938, the original purpose of the March of Dimes was to fight polio,
and it helped fund the development of two vaccines in the 1950s to
safeguard individuals against the disease; following those
successes, the organization shifted its focus to the prevention of
birth defects in 1958; and
WHEREAS, In the decades since, the March of Dimes has been a
pioneer in the field, making groundbreaking advances in maternal
and child health; the group's research has led to the discovery of
lifesaving products and techniques such as surfactant therapy for
premature infants and tests to identify birth defects; and
WHEREAS, A longtime advocate for improved access to health
care for women, children, and families, the March of Dimes has
collaborated with elected officials in national and state
government to realize progress in this area; in 2003, the group
authored the Prematurity Research Expansion and Education for
Mothers Who Deliver Infants Early (PREEMIE) Act, which became law
in 2006; two years later, Congress passed the Newborn Screening
Saves Lives Act, and the March of Dimes worked to ensure that every
state in the nation implemented the screening procedures detailed
in the legislation; and
WHEREAS, The March of Dimes sponsors numerous programs in
Texas to support healthy pregnancies and infants; focusing on
community engagement and information sharing, these worthy
endeavors range from providing assistance to families with newborn
children in intensive care units to funding scholarships for
individuals pursuing careers in perinatal health care; and
WHEREAS, For three quarters of a century, the March of Dimes
and its dedicated volunteers have carried out important efforts to
improve the health of individuals throughout the United States, and
this admirable organization is sure to remain a positive force in
the years ahead; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas
Legislature hereby honor the March of Dimes Foundation on its 75th
anniversary and extend to the Texas chapter of the organization
sincere best wishes for continued success.