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