By:  Rosson, et al.                             S.R. No. 1155
                                   SENATE RESOLUTION
    1-1        WHEREAS, Education is essential to the preservation of a free
    1-2  and democratic society, but the state's current system of funding
    1-3  higher education disregards the needs of citizens in certain areas
    1-4  of the state, and such inequity is inconsistent with the principles
    1-5  of democracy; and
    1-6        WHEREAS, When Texans launched their revolution in 1835, they
    1-7  cited as foremost among their grievances the failure of the
    1-8  government to establish and properly fund an adequate public
    1-9  education system; after forming a free and independent republic,
   1-10  Texans included in their constitution provisions to ensure the
   1-11  permanent and continuous support of a public education system; and
   1-12        WHEREAS, The spirit of that constitution is being violated
   1-13  today as institutions of higher learning in South Texas and along
   1-14  the border struggle to receive adequate state funding and support
   1-15  for their programs; although 20 percent of the Texas population
   1-16  lives along the border, that region receives only 10 percent of
   1-17  available higher education funds; and
   1-18        WHEREAS, This grievous situation has been brought to the
   1-19  attention of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, which
   1-20  oversees the distribution of public funds among state universities
   1-21  and colleges, but the problem persists; opportunities for higher
   1-22  education in South Texas continue to lag behind the educational
   1-23  opportunities of other similarly populated areas of the state, even
    2-1  as economic activity in this region steadily increases; and
    2-2        WHEREAS, The easing of trade restrictions in Mexico combined
    2-3  with growing interest in international trade has put South Texas at
    2-4  the forefront of economic activity in the state, but to take
    2-5  advantage of this unprecedented opportunity, Texas needs an
    2-6  educated work force in this region, a work force that is prepared
    2-7  to meet the challenges and expectations of a global economy; and
    2-8        WHEREAS, Now more than ever, it is vital that South Texans
    2-9  receive fair and adequate funding for their institutions of higher
   2-10  learning; as we approach the 21st century, support of higher
   2-11  education becomes less an ideal and more an economic necessity, for
   2-12  any state that is unable to meet the changing demands of the world
   2-13  market will be denied opportunities for economic growth and
   2-14  expansion; and
   2-15        WHEREAS, If the inequitable funding of higher education in
   2-16  South Texas is allowed to continue, all Texans will suffer from the
   2-17  negative economic impact and lost opportunities; now, therefore, be
   2-18  it
   2-19        RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 73rd
   2-20  Legislature, hereby express its intent that institutions of higher
   2-21  education in South Texas and along the border receive adequate
   2-22  support from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board; and, be
   2-23  it further
   2-24        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
   2-25  forwarded to Commissioner Kenneth H. Ashworth of the Texas Higher
    3-1  Education Coordinating Board as an expression of the sentiment of
    3-2  the Senate of the State of Texas.
    3-3                                 _____________________________________
    3-4                                        President of the Senate
    3-5                                      I hereby certify that the
    3-6                                 above Resolution was adopted by
    3-7                                 the Senate on May 29, 1993.
    3-8                                 _____________________________________
    3-9                                        Secretary of the Senate