By Alonzo H.C.R. No. 247 74R14300 JLZ-D HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, In Senate Bill 5, the General Appropriations Act for 1-2 the 1994-1995 biennium, the 73rd Texas Legislature included a 1-3 provision that would have allowed The University of Texas at 1-4 Arlington to use certain funds at its discretion to create a Center 1-5 for Mexican American Studies at that institution; and 1-6 WHEREAS, In October 1994, the goal of establishing the center 1-7 was finally realized, but the funding to achieve this goal was 1-8 derived from sources other than state appropriations, contrary to 1-9 what had been the legislature's intent, and was the result of 1-10 outstanding efforts on the part of the president of The University 1-11 of Texas at Arlington, the university's administration, and other 1-12 interested parties who recognize the increasingly important role 1-13 that such a center can play in improving the economic and cultural 1-14 well-being of the North Texas region; and 1-15 WHEREAS, Attended by more than 500 persons, including local, 1-16 state, and federal officials, the center's grand opening in October 1-17 was indicative of the widespread support for the center throughout 1-18 the North Texas community, which includes more than half a million 1-19 Hispanics in the Dallas Metroplex area who would be served by the 1-20 center in the same way the communities of Houston, San Antonio, 1-21 Austin, and El Paso are served by similar centers in those regions; 1-22 and 1-23 WHEREAS, Seeking to ensure the success of this much-needed 1-24 center, the members of the 74th Legislature have again shown their 2-1 support for this endeavor by including in the general 2-2 appropriations bill for the 1996-1997 biennium, House Bill 1, a 2-3 provision, Rider No. 3, authorizing the transfer of $300,000 from 2-4 the funds appropriated to The University of Texas at Arlington for 2-5 the expressed purpose of funding operations at the Center for 2-6 Mexican American Studies; now, therefore, be it 2-7 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-8 hereby state explicitly its legislative intent and direct the 2-9 president of The University of Texas at Arlington to use the funds 2-10 designated in Rider No. 3 in the appropriations made to the 2-11 university by House Bill 1, the General Appropriations Act, solely 2-12 for the operation of the Center for Mexican American Studies at 2-13 that institution; and, be it further 2-14 RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be 2-15 forwarded to the president of The University of Texas at Arlington 2-16 and to the board of regents of The University of Texas System as 2-17 official expressions of legislative will and intent by the 74th 2-18 Texas Legislature.