WHEREAS, It is the policy of the Washington State Legislature to recognize excellence in all fields of endeavor; and
     WHEREAS, Public health departments in Washington state provide programs and services to help prevent illness and injury, promote healthy places to live and work, provide education to help people make good health decisions, and ensure clean drinking water, sanitary food service, and protection to our communities from communicable and infectious diseases; and
     WHEREAS, In May 1911 there was an explosive outbreak of typhoid fever in Yakima County that prompted the formation of the Yakima Health District on June 17, 1911, to take on the issues of sanitation, sewage disposal, and water well construction throughout the entire county; and
     WHEREAS, The Yakima Health District was the first joint city/county health district, not only in the state of Washington, but in the entire United States; and
     WHEREAS, Dr. Leslie Lumsden, Yakima Health District founder, published recommendations entitled, "The Causation and Prevention of Typhoid Fever – With Special Reference to Conditions Observed in Yakima County Washington," which became the blueprint for rural sanitation work, as well as the foundation for the establishment of other county health departments across the nation; and
     WHEREAS, The Yakima Health District is a recognized leader in Washington in tuberculosis control, immunizations, disease outbreak investigations, protecting at-risk newborns, smoking prevention, and preventing and treating other health problems that affect not just individuals, but families, businesses, and the entire community; and
     WHEREAS, The Yakima Health District has kept HIV infections low through preventative education, testing, and by implementing one of the first syringe-exchange programs in the state; and
     WHEREAS, The Yakima Health District has targeted early detection and treatment of breast, cervical, and colon cancer through its outreach program; and
     WHEREAS, The Yakima Health District is working to lower the rate of child obesity through expansion of nutritional menus in the local schools; and
     WHEREAS, The Yakima Health District serves more than 250,000 people annually with its 39 full-time employees, providing prevention, education, and disease control services; and
     WHEREAS, On June 17, 2011, the Yakima Health District, led by its administrator, Dennis J. Klukan, will celebrate 100 years of service as the nation's leader in the promotion, protection, and enhancement of health and safety for all;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the state of Washington honor the Yakima Health District for its many years of leadership and dedicated service toward the protection and well-being of the citizens of our state; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to the Yakima Health District.