SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 25
(By Senators Mitchell and Helmick)
Recognizing the many contributions of the March of Dimes Birth
Defects Foundation.
Whereas, The March of Dimes was founded in 1938 by President
Franklin D. Roosevelt to raise funds through the efforts of
volunteers to support the development of a vaccine which virtually
has eliminated the crippling human toll of polio from the world;
and
Whereas, The March of Dimes brought together the power of
volunteers and benefits of science against another even greater
challenge--birth defects, which is the nation's number one child
health problem; and
Whereas, For the past forty-four years, the March of Dimes has
been a pioneer in saving babies from birth defects, low-birth
weight and infant mortality through research, community programs,
education and advocacy; and
Whereas, West Virginia has a higher rate of low-birth weight
infants than any other state in the nation; and
Whereas, West Virginia has a higher rate of premature births
than any other state in the nation; and
Whereas, On April 5, 2001, the March of Dimes will hold a Low-Birth Weight and Birth Defect Prevention Summit to develop a
comprehensive plan to decrease West Virginia's incidence of low-
birth weight infants and birth defects; and
Whereas, The commitment of all West Virginians should be to
ensure a healthy start in life for our children; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate:
That the Senate hereby recognizes the many contributions of
the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation and commends the March
of Dimes for embarking on a Low-Birth Weight and Birth Defect
Prevention Summit; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward
a copy of this resolution to the appropriate representatives of the
West Virginia State Chapter of the March of Dimes Birth Defects
Foundation.