TITLE: Recognizing March 4, 2025, as Make Texans Healthy Again Day at the State Capitol.

SUMMARY: Recognizing March 4, 2025, as Make Texans Healthy Again Day at the State Capitol.

FULL TEXT:
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