By Solis H.R. No. 100 74R4904 SRD-F R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Since 1987, the Valley AIDS Council in Harlingen has 1-2 provided invaluable health care and educational services to the 1-3 residents of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, and its committed efforts 1-4 in fighting the AIDS epidemic are greatly appreciated by all 1-5 Texans; and 1-6 WHEREAS, The only community-based organization in the region 1-7 dealing with AIDS- and HIV-related issues, the Council began as a 1-8 volunteer speaker's bureau dedicated to educating the community 1-9 about HIV; responding to the rapid growth of the AIDS epidemic, the 1-10 Council expanded its services in 1989 to include case management, 1-11 support services, and primary health care referrals; and 1-12 WHEREAS, When available medical services proved insufficient 1-13 to meet the needs of HIV-infected individuals in the Valley, the 1-14 Council opened its own full-service primary health care clinic, 1-15 Corazones Unidos; the clinic offers lab services, a pharmacy, and 1-16 substance abuse referrals, as well as medical and dental care; and 1-17 WHEREAS, This distinguished organization is able to provide 1-18 quality care to those individuals and families whose lives have 1-19 been affected by AIDS and HIV through the financial assistance 1-20 provided them by the Texas Department of Health, the Bureau of 1-21 Primary Health Care, the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug 1-22 Abuse, the Levi Strauss Foundation, and the United Way of Southern 1-23 Cameron County; through pastoral and psychological counseling, 1-24 support groups, a food pantry, and assistance with housing and 2-1 transportation, the Valley AIDS Council seeks to treat the entire 2-2 person rather than just the illness, and this holistic approach 2-3 enables it to ably meet all the diverse needs of its clients; and 2-4 WHEREAS, At a time when health care approaches and 2-5 alternatives are being widely discussed, the Valley AIDS Council 2-6 has taken the lead in finding innovative solutions to the unique 2-7 health concerns of its neighbors in South Texas; its compassionate 2-8 and comprehensive approach in tackling the problems of the AIDS 2-9 epidemic will surely become a model for programs across the nation, 2-10 and its remarkable efforts are indeed worthy of special praise and 2-11 recognition; now, therefore, be it 2-12 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 2-13 Legislature hereby commend the Valley AIDS Council for its 2-14 outstanding service to the people of Harlingen and the Rio Grande 2-15 Valley and extend to its staff warmest best wishes for continued 2-16 success in the future; and, be it further 2-17 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-18 prepared for the Valley AIDS Council as an expression of high 2-19 regard by the Texas House of Representatives.