Reps. Vaupel, Cochran, Bizon, Brinks, Canfield, Chirkun, Crawford, Driskell, Faris, Geiss, Greig, Heise, Hooker, Howrylak, Hughes, Kelly, LaVoy, Maturen, Phelps, Price, Sarah Roberts, Singh, Theis, Whiteford, Wittenberg and Hoadley offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 334.

            A resolution to declare September 15, 2016, as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day in the state of Michigan.

            Whereas, Healthy children are the most important resource in the great state of Michigan and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) pose a serious threat to the potential health of our future generations; and

            Whereas, More than 30 years have passed since Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) was identified and named as a birth disorder by United States researchers; and

            Whereas, Prenatal exposure to alcohol can cause birth defects, mental retardation, learning disabilities, and attention deficits; and

            Whereas, The estimated number of FASD per year is over 30,000; and

            Whereas, The incidence rate of full FAS is estimated at 1 out of every 1,000 live births and the incidence rate of FASD is estimated at 1 out of every 100 live births; and

            Whereas, Individuals with FASD often have secondary hardships such as trouble with the law, substance abuse issues, disrupted school experiences, employment problems, and homelessness; and

            Whereas, FASD is entirely preventable; and

            Whereas, People around the world began observing International FAS Awareness Day on September 9 of each year beginning in 1999 in order that on the ninth day of the ninth month of the year the world will remember that a woman should abstain from alcohol during the nine months of pregnancy; and

            Whereas, The U.S. Senate has passed a resolution designating September 9 as National Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day and has called upon all states to observe FASD Awareness Day; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body declare September 15, 2016, as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Awareness Day in the state of Michigan. We strongly urge all citizens to increase their knowledge of the effects of prenatal exposure to alcohol, to increase their level of compassion for individuals affected by FASD, and to do all which may lie in their power to reduce the incidence of FASD in the state of Michigan in the future.