H.R. No. 196 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is pleased to 1-2 recognize the Middle Rio Grande Development Council for its 1-3 important contributions to the citizens in the southwest area of 1-4 our state; and 1-5 WHEREAS, The Middle Rio Grande Development Council is a 1-6 multifaceted organization whose primary aim is to assist in the 1-7 broad scale development of the Middle Rio Grande region of Texas; 1-8 and 1-9 WHEREAS, A regional council of governments, it serves the 1-10 communities of Dimmit, Edwards, Kinney, La Salle, Maverick, Real, 1-11 Uvalde, Val Verde, and Zavala counties; and 1-12 WHEREAS, One of 24 regional councils in Texas, it is a 1-13 voluntary association of local governments formed under Texas law 1-14 that deals with the problems and planning needs that cross the 1-15 boundaries of individual local governments or that require regional 1-16 attention; and 1-17 WHEREAS, The council has no taxing authority or regulatory 1-18 powers and is funded from local, state, and federal governments; 1-19 its board of directors is the policy-making body, which employs an 1-20 executive director to manage daily operations and staff; and 1-21 WHEREAS, Its broad range of duties includes responsibility 1-22 for the administration of education and employment training, 1-23 economic development, solid waste management, land resource 2-1 management, environmental quality, rural development, assistance to 2-2 the aging, emergency communication systems, and criminal justice 2-3 programs; and 2-4 WHEREAS, The Middle Rio Grande Development Council is to be 2-5 commended for its excellent work in providing increased economic 2-6 opportunities for the region and for assisting in community 2-7 planning to enhance the quality of life for all the citizens of 2-8 Southwest Texas; now, therefore, be it 2-9 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 2-10 Legislature hereby express its appreciation to the Middle Rio 2-11 Grande Development Council for its dedication to the people it so 2-12 conscientiously serves; and, be it further 2-13 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared as an 2-14 expression of the high regard of the Texas House of 2-15 Representatives.