TITLE: Honoring the United Health Foundation for its TOUCH partnership grant to the University of Houston.

SUMMARY: Honoring the United Health Foundation for its TOUCH partnership grant to the University of Houston.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The United Health Foundation has awarded a $2 million partnership grant to the University of Houston to support obesity prevention, nutrition education, and improved access to healthy foods; and WHEREAS, According to the annual State of Obesity report, Texas ranks 10th in the nation, with more than 32 percent of residents having a body mass index of 30 or higher, up from 21.7 percent in 2000; obesity-related diseases such as heart disease and arthritis are alarmingly prevalent in the state, and nearly 30 percent of the population suffers from hypertension, while more than 11 percent has been diagnosed with diabetes; and WHEREAS, The foundation and the university are partnering in the Preventing and Treating Obesity in Underserved Communities in Houston initiative, or TOUCH, which is designed to benefit residents of the Third Ward and East End, communities that include a large percentage of African Americans and Hispanics; both populations experience high rates of obesity and related illnesses; and WHEREAS, With the goal of assisting 5,000 residents over the next three years, TOUCH will bring together an integrated network, including UH researchers, community and faith-based organizations, schools, primary care clinics, local businesses, and governmental entities; the program is envisioned as a future model for improving and maintaining healthy lifestyle practices across Houston and beyond; and WHEREAS, This generous partnership grant represents a significant investment in the health and well-being of Houston residents and in the vitality of that community; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature hereby honor the United Health Foundation for its TOUCH partnership grant to the University of Houston and extend to all those involved in the initiative sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the foundation as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Coleman Straus Goldman Oliverson Allen Gonzales of Williamson Ortega Alonzo Gonz lez of El Paso Paddie Alvarado Gooden Parker Anchia Guerra Paul Anderson of Dallas Guillen Perez Anderson of McLennan Gutierrez Phelan Ar valo Hefner Phillips Ashby Hernandez Pickett Bailes Herrero Price Bell Hinojosa Raney Bernal Holland Raymond Biedermann Howard Reynolds Blanco Huberty Rinaldi Bohac Hunter Roberts Bonnen of Brazoria Isaac Rodriguez of Bexar Bonnen of Galveston Israel Rodriguez of Travis Burkett Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr. Burns Johnson of Harris Rose Burrows Kacal Sanford Button Keough Schaefer Cain King of Hemphill Schofield Canales King of Parker Schubert Capriglione King of Uvalde Shaheen Clardy Klick Sheffield Coleman Koop Shine Collier Krause Simmons Cook Kuempel Smithee Cortez Lambert Springer Cosper Landgraf Stephenson Craddick Lang Stickland Cyrier Larson Stucky Dale Laubenberg Swanson Darby Leach Thierry Davis of Dallas Longoria Thompson of Brazoria Davis of Harris Lozano Thompson of Harris Dean Lucio III Tinderholt Deshotel Martinez Turner Dukes Metcalf Uresti Dutton Meyer VanDeaver Elkins Miller Villalba Faircloth Minjarez Vo Fallon Moody Walle Farrar Morrison White Flynn Mu oz, Jr. Wilson Frank Murphy Workman Frullo Murr Wray Geren Neave Wu Gervin-Hawkins Nev rez Zedler Giddings Oliveira Zerwas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1164 was adopted by the House on March 29, 2017, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House