HJ0017 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0017 LRB094 10694 MKM 41085 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The number of children suffering from some type of eating disorder that either results in unhealthy weight gain or weight loss has increased significantly in the past 10 years without discrimination as to age, sex, or race; and

WHEREAS, An estimated 14 million children ages 2 to 17 are considered obese and an additional 8.6 million children are considered at risk for obesity, a figure that has nearly tripled since the 1970s; and

WHEREAS, Obese children often remain obese into adulthood, placing them at risk for developing 4 of the 10 leading causes of death in the United States: coronary heart disease, Type II diabetes, stroke, and cancer; and

WHEREAS, The cost of treating long-term health problems linked to children and adults that are overweight or obese has been estimated at more than $93 billion a year; and

WHEREAS, The eating habits children develop at an early age can help prevent them from becoming obese or developing other unhealthy eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia; and

WHEREAS, The effort to improve the nutritional health and well-being of our children must involve the entire community, including health care specialists, educators, parents, business leaders, and policy makers; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we urge the Governor to convene a Summit on Children's Nutritional Health and Well-Being in order to gather experts and professionals in the field of nutrition, members of the General Assembly, representatives of the Department of Public Health the Department of Human Services, and the State Board of Education, business leaders, educators, and other child advocacy representatives in order to articulate a vision and policy stance for the State of Illinois regarding children's nutritional health; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Summit shall consist of no more than 30 members; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the President of the Senate and the Minority Leader of the Senate shall each appoint 2 members of the General Assembly and 2 members of the public to the Summit and the Speaker of the House and the Minority Leader of the House shall each appoint 2 members of the General Assembly and 2 members of the public to the Summit; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Public Health, the Department of Human Services, and the Illinois State Board of Education shall each appoint one member to the Summit; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Governor shall appoint up to 11 additional members, consisting of at least one certified nutritionist, one expert on childhood diabetes, and one licensed psychiatrist, as well as other professionals in the field of nutrition, educators, and business leaders, and the Governor shall also appoint one member as the Chair of the Summit; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Summit shall explore the status of children's nutritional health in Illinois, develop policy recommendations, and explore possible funding streams for continued and ongoing nutritional programs and awareness campaigns; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Summit shall hold open forums and public hearings to allow members of the public to attend and testify before the members; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Summit shall convene no later than one month following the adoption of this resolution, with preliminary findings and recommendations reported to the Governor and to the General Assembly no later than January 1, 2006; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to the Governor, the Director of the Department of Public Health, the Secretary of Human Services, and the Illinois State Board of Education.