H.R. No. 372
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The national Make America Healthy Again movement is
raising awareness about the critical need to address rising chronic
disease rates, poor nutrition, and declining physical and mental
health through education and advocacy; and
WHEREAS, The leading cause of mortality and disability in the
United States, chronic diseases are attributed to more than 7 out of
10 deaths among Americans per year, and over 75 percent of health
care spending is related to the management of these conditions;
between 2002 and 2022, total Medicaid spending in Texas increased
by more than 300 percent, reflecting a substantial financial burden
on our health care system; and
WHEREAS, The rate of obesity in the U.S. skyrocketed from
14.5 percent in 1971 to 42.8 percent in 2018; diagnosed cases of
diabetes also surged from 1.6 million in 1958 to over 37 million in
2022, and a further 96 million Americans are estimated to have
prediabetes; the sharp rise in obesity in the U.S. has coincided
with the increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods, which now
account for more than half of all calories consumed by the average
American; and
WHEREAS, The vast majority of Americans fall short of
metabolic health standards, with 93 percent of Americans failing to
meet key markers; in addition, more than three-quarters of
Americans do not engage in the recommended levels of physical
activity, and the average adult spends over six hours per day
sitting; and
WHEREAS, Fertility rates in the U.S. have declined alongside
other health measures, with the birth rate decreasing from around
3.7 children per woman in 1960 to around 1.6 children per woman in
2020; moreover, sperm counts have also seen an accelerated decline;
and
WHEREAS, The growing concerns around public health are not
limited to physical ailments; between the early 1990s and 2018,
antidepressant use multiplied fivefold among U.S. adults; from 2011
to 2021, reports of high school students experiencing persistent
sadness or hopelessness rose from 28 percent to 42 percent, and
reports of them seriously considering suicide climbed from 16
percent to 22 percent over that same time period; and
WHEREAS, The state of public health in our country is a
critical issue that impacts the lives of every Texan, but by working
together to promote better lifestyle choices and strengthen support
for mental health, we can help create a brighter future for all;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize March 4, 2025, as Make Texans Healthy
Again Day at the State Capitol and encourage Texans to learn more
about the movement and the steps they can take to improve their
physical, mental, and metabolic health.
Isaac
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 372 was adopted by the House on April
17, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 133, Nays 7, 2 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House