H.C.R. No. 90
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1-1 WHEREAS, The members of the Texas Legislature are proud to
1-2 honor Congressman Jack Brooks for more than four decades of
1-3 outstanding service in the U.S. House of Representatives; and
1-4 WHEREAS, A native of Crowley, Louisiana, Congressman Brooks
1-5 was born December 18, 1922, and moved with his family to Beaumont
1-6 as a child; in his youth, he worked as a reporter for the Beaumont
1-7 Enterprise and earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from The
1-8 University of Texas at Austin in 1943; and
1-9 WHEREAS, This patriotic Texan enlisted in the U.S. Marine
1-10 Corps during World War II and bravely served his country while
1-11 stationed in Guadalcanal, Guam, Okinawa, and North China; following
1-12 his discharge from active duty with the rank of first lieutenant,
1-13 he continued to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, retiring
1-14 with the rank of colonel in 1972; and
1-15 WHEREAS, After World War II, Congressman Brooks returned to
1-16 Texas and embarked on a remarkable career of public service that
1-17 began in 1946 with his election to the Texas House of
1-18 Representatives, where he completed two successful terms while
1-19 earning a law degree from The University of Texas at Austin; and
1-20 WHEREAS, Congressman Brooks was first elected to the U.S.
1-21 House of Representatives in 1952 and was reelected to 20 successive
1-22 terms in office; in 1979 he became the dean of the Texas delegation
1-23 in Congress, a title bestowed on the delegation member with the
1-24 longest tenure of service; and
2-1 WHEREAS, This dedicated public servant has earned the lasting
2-2 respect of his colleagues over the years through his adroit
2-3 chairmanship of a number of prominent committees including the
2-4 House Committee on the Judiciary, the House Committee on Government
2-5 Operations, the House Subcommittee on Government Activities, and
2-6 the Joint Committee on Congressional Operations; and
2-7 WHEREAS, A member of the Judiciary Committee since 1955, he
2-8 has played a pivotal role in several legislative landmarks over the
2-9 course of the past few decades, having assisted in the drafting of
2-10 the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, led
2-11 the investigation into expenditures of public funds by President
2-12 Richard Nixon, and participated in the impeachment proceedings that
2-13 led to the former president's resignation; and
2-14 WHEREAS, In addition, Congressman Brooks has served as a
2-15 valued member of the Select Committee to Investigate Covert Arms
2-16 Transactions with Iran, the House Select Committee on Narcotics
2-17 Abuse and Control, and as a longtime member of the North Atlantic
2-18 Assembly; recognized as a respected voice within the Democratic
2-19 Party, he also has served as a delegate to the House Democratic
2-20 Steering and Policy Committee; and
2-21 WHEREAS, Throughout his exemplary career, Congressman Brooks
2-22 has consistently sought to promote cost-reduction strategies and
2-23 economy and efficiency in governmental affairs, and he has
2-24 successfully guided numerous measures designed to achieve these
2-25 worthy goals through the legislative process to passage; among his
2-26 greatest achievements in this regard have been the Competition in
2-27 Contracting Act, the Paperwork Reduction Act, and legislation to
3-1 establish the Office of Federal Procurement Policy; and
3-2 WHEREAS, Congressman Brooks also has been instrumental in
3-3 securing many vital public improvement projects for Texas, having
3-4 served as a strong advocate for the construction of the Sam Rayburn
3-5 Dam and Reservoir and obtained funding for the completion of such
3-6 significant projects as the Big Hill Strategic Petroleum Reserve
3-7 and extensive improvements to deepwater shipping channels; and
3-8 WHEREAS, At home in Texas, Congressman Brooks and his wife,
3-9 Charlotte, are cherished residents of Beaumont who celebrated their
3-10 44th wedding anniversary on December 15; the couple are the proud
3-11 parents of three children, Jack Edward (Jeb), Katherine Inez
3-12 (Kate), and Kimberly Grace (Kim); and
3-13 WHEREAS, Congressman Brooks has presided over a wealth of
3-14 legislative accomplishments during his extraordinary career and has
3-15 served his constituents with the utmost integrity and distinction;
3-16 at this time, it is indeed fitting that we honor this distinguished
3-17 statesman and fellow Texan for his lasting contributions to the
3-18 citizens of our state; now, therefore, be it
3-19 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas,
3-20 Regular Session, 1995, hereby commend Congressman Jack Brooks for
3-21 his many years of outstanding public service to his state and
3-22 nation; and, be it further
3-23 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-24 prepared for Congressman Brooks as an expression of highest regard
3-25 by the Legislature of the State of Texas.