SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 173
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 Senate of the State of Texas, 89th
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.
Hughes
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on March 4, 2025.
________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
________________________________
Member, Texas Senate