By Price H.C.R. No. 90 74R2823 PFG-D 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.