HOUSE RESOLUTION 85
(By Delegates Mahan, Calvert, Capito, Compton, Douglas, Facemyer,
Fleischauer, Fletcher, Hatfield, Houston, Hubbard, Leach,
Marshall, Pettit, Smirl, L. Smith, Spencer, Susman, Warner and
Yeager)
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to make a
study of women's health policy issues in order to promote
research, education, and access and to develop positive
initiatives for preventive health and healthy lifestyles.
Whereas, Women in West Virginia suffer some of the highest
rates of heart disease in the United States and heart disease is
the leading cause of death for women; and
Whereas, Twenty-five million Americans suffer from osteoporosis
and women lose 20% of their bone mass in the first seven years
after menopause; and
Whereas, One out of eight women will develop breast cancer in
their lifetime and all types of cancer in women make it the second
leading cause of death in West Virginia; and
Whereas, Women over fifty years of age in West Virginia
comprise nineteen percent of the population, more than in any other
state; and
Whereas, Women are now living more than one-third of their
lives after menopause making them more susceptible to other
diseases and chronic medical conditions; and
Whereas, Men are usually at higher risk for many fatal
diseases, however, women have a higher risk for a number of chronic
conditions such as depression and arthritis; and
Whereas, There are a number of other health, social and medical
conditions affecting women's health which require study, such as
PMS, diabetes, migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, sexual assault
and domestic violence, substance abuse, sexually transmitted
diseases, use of tobacco products, prenatal care and postnatal
care, and low birth weight babies; therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Delegates:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is
requested to review, examine and study women's health policy issues
in order to promote research, education, access and to develop
positive initiatives for preventive health and healthy lifestyles
in West Virginia and to make recommendations to the legislature
regarding the same; and be it
Further Resolved, That a particular focus of the study be
directed towards medical conditions that significantly impact
women, including heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, menopause,
PMS, diabetes, migraine, irritable bowel syndrome, mental health,
sexual assault and domestic violence, substance abuse, sexually transmitted deceases, use of tobacco products, prenatal and
postnatal care, and low birth weight babies; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature 2001, on
its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together with drafts
of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations;
and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this
study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be
paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on
Government and Finance.