H.R. No. 377
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The Honorable Henry G. Cisneros of San Antonio
1-2 recently was named secretary of housing and urban development by
1-3 President Bill Clinton, and this special recognition is indeed well
1-4 deserved; and
1-5 WHEREAS, Secretary Cisneros has long been recognized in the
1-6 State of Texas and throughout the nation for his extraordinary
1-7 vision and commitment, and he has been referred to by the president
1-8 as one of the most gifted public servants of our time; and
1-9 WHEREAS, Born on San Antonio's predominantly Mexican-American
1-10 west side on June 11, 1947, he is the son of George Cisneros, a
1-11 civil servant and military officer, and Elvira Cisneros, the
1-12 daughter of Mexican immigrants who came to this country during the
1-13 Mexican Revolution; and
1-14 WHEREAS, A graduate of Texas A&M University, Secretary
1-15 Cisneros holds a master's degree from the John F. Kennedy School of
1-16 Government at Harvard University as well as a doctorate in public
1-17 administration from George Washington University; and
1-18 WHEREAS, It was in 1975 that Secretary Cisneros first entered
1-19 the political arena with his election to the San Antonio City
1-20 Council; during a time of rising ethnic tensions in the city, he
1-21 helped to build a bridge of understanding between the community's
1-22 growing Mexican-American population and its Anglo-dominated
1-23 business community; and
1-24 WHEREAS, Elected San Antonio's first Hispanic mayor in modern
2-1 times in 1981, this dedicated public servant was returned to office
2-2 two years later with 94 percent of the vote and was elected on two
2-3 more occasions before leaving office; and
2-4 WHEREAS, During his tenure as mayor, Secretary Cisneros
2-5 became the Alamo City's top promoter and played a pivotal role in
2-6 revitalizing the community by backing the development of Sea World
2-7 and the Texas Research Park, the renovation of downtown San
2-8 Antonio, the expansion of the convention center and the
2-9 construction of the Alamo Dome, and the development of Rivercenter
2-10 Mall; and
2-11 WHEREAS, Secretary Cisneros emerged on the national scene
2-12 when he was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to a bipartisan
2-13 commission on Central America and, in 1984, was considered as a
2-14 possible vice-presidential running mate by Democratic presidential
2-15 nominee Walter Mondale; and
2-16 WHEREAS, Since leaving the office of mayor of San Antonio,
2-17 this dynamic individual has continued to distinguish himself
2-18 through a wealth of accomplishments, having served as chairman of
2-19 the National Civic League, as cochairman of the National Hispanic
2-20 Leadership Agenda, as vice-chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of
2-21 Dallas, and as president of the National League of Cities; and
2-22 WHEREAS, In selecting Secretary Cisneros to head the
2-23 Department of Housing and Urban Development, President Clinton has
2-24 chosen a man with proven expertise in solving urban problems who
2-25 has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to improving our
2-26 nation's cities; and
2-27 WHEREAS, The members of this chamber agree with President
3-1 Clinton, who has said that, "With Henry Cisneros at the Department
3-2 of Housing and Urban Development, America's cities will have the
3-3 voice and vision they deserve"; now, therefore, be it
3-4 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas
3-5 Legislature hereby congratulate the Honorable Henry G. Cisneros on
3-6 his appointment as secretary of housing and urban development and
3-7 extend sincere best wishes to him for continued success as he faces
3-8 the challenges that lie ahead; and, be it further
3-9 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-10 prepared for Secretary Cisneros as an expression of high regard by
3-11 the Texas House of Representatives.