| 1 | 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 320 |
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| 2 | 2 | | WHEREAS, Cancer is the leading cause of death from disease |
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| 3 | 3 | | for children and adolescents in Texas; and |
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| 4 | 4 | | WHEREAS, In 2014, more than 1,600 Texans age 19 or younger |
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| 5 | 5 | | were diagnosed with cancer; it is estimated that one in 285 |
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| 6 | 6 | | people will be diagnosed with cancer before the age of 20, and |
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| 7 | 7 | | the number of cases of childhood cancer has risen 24 percent |
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| 8 | 8 | | over the past 40 years; and |
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| 9 | 9 | | WHEREAS, During the emotional and often frightening time |
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| 10 | 10 | | that follows a cancer diagnosis, young patients must rely on |
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| 11 | 11 | | caregivers to guide them every step of the way; in addition to |
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| 12 | 12 | | the essential support provided by their families, patients |
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| 13 | 13 | | depend on medical care delivered by the skilled physicians, |
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| 14 | 14 | | nurses, and technicians who work tirelessly to help them fight |
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| 15 | 15 | | the disease; and |
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| 16 | 16 | | WHEREAS, In 2007, Texas voters approved a constitutional |
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| 17 | 17 | | amendment that established the Cancer Prevention and Research |
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| 18 | 18 | | Institute of Texas, with the mission of expediting innovation in |
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| 19 | 19 | | cancer research and the development of lifesaving treatments; |
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| 20 | 20 | | the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas devotes |
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| 21 | 21 | | fully 10 percent of its funding to childhood cancers, well over |
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| 22 | 22 | | the percent devoted by the National Cancer Institute, and all of |
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| 23 | 23 | | its funded research is conducted in Texas by Texas-based |
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| 24 | 24 | | scientists; and |
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| 25 | 25 | | WHEREAS, The trauma and uncertainty of coping with cancer |
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| 26 | 26 | | is an experience that no child should face, but with the help of |
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| 27 | 27 | | health care professionals, caregivers, and dedicated researchers |
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| 28 | 28 | | across the state, young patients have more hope than ever before |
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| 29 | 29 | | of overcoming this devastating disease and living full, happy |
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| 30 | 30 | | lives; now, therefore, be it |
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| 31 | 31 | | RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th |
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| 32 | 32 | | Legislature, hereby recognize March 1, 2017, as Childhood Cancer |
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| 33 | 33 | | Awareness Day at the State Capitol and commend all those who are |
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| 34 | 34 | | working on behalf of children with cancer and their families. |
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| 35 | 35 | | Zaffirini |
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| 36 | 36 | | ________________________________ |
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| 37 | 37 | | President of the Senate |
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| 38 | 38 | | I hereby certify that the |
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| 39 | 39 | | above Resolution was adopted by |
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| 40 | 40 | | the Senate on March 1, 2017. |
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| 41 | 41 | | ________________________________ |
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| 42 | 42 | | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 43 | 43 | | ________________________________ |
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| 44 | 44 | | Member, Texas Senate |
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