SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 496

WHEREAS, Texas Health and Human Services Inspector General Sylvia Hernandez Kauffman has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to her fellow citizens over the course of her notable career in public service; and

WHEREAS, Sylvia Kauffman first joined the Office of Inspector General in 2015 after working for the Health and Human Services Commission, and she previously served OIG as principal deputy inspector general and deputy inspector general for data and technology; she was appointed to her current position as inspector general for Texas Health and Human Services by Governor Greg Abbott in January 2018; and

WHEREAS, Among her many responsibilities, Inspector General Kauffman oversees the vision, direction, strategy, and day-to-day operations of the 500-person office, which is charged with protecting the integrity of HHS programs and with preventing, detecting, and deterring fraud, waste, and abuse in the delivery of health and human services in the state; throughout her exemplary tenure, she has placed a significant emphasis on the use of data analytics, and as a result, recoveries have steadily increased despite a reduction in overall staff; in the 2022 fiscal year alone, the agency recovered nearly half a billion dollars and demonstrated a return of $6.21 for every dollar invested; in total, the OIG has recovered more than $2 billion for Texas taxpayers under her able leadership; and

WHEREAS, Born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley, Inspector General Kauffman was the valedictorian of her high school and a first-generation college student; she holds a bachelor's degree in computer science from Stanford University and a master's degree in public policy from Harvard University; earlier in her career, she was employed by the Strategic Planning Unit in the Information Technology Division of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, where she received the Governor's Special Achievement Award for her work in transforming the delivery of government services; and

WHEREAS, Through her skill, professionalism, and commitment to excellence, Sylvia Kauffman has greatly benefited the people of the Lone Star State, and she may indeed reflect with pride on her outstanding record of service; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th Legislature, hereby honor Sylvia Hernandez Kauffman for her professional accomplishments and extend to her sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be prepared for Inspector General Kauffman as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate.

LaMantia

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on May 1, 2023.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate