H.R. No. 1213 R E S O L U T I O N 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 the 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 2-1 center, the members of the Texas House of Representatives of the 2-2 74th Texas Legislature have again shown their support for this 2-3 endeavor by including in the general appropriations bill for the 2-4 1996-1997 biennium, House Bill 1, a provision, Rider No. 3, 2-5 authorizing the transfer of $300,000 from the funds appropriated to 2-6 The University of Texas at Arlington for the express purpose of 2-7 funding operations at the Center for Mexican American Studies; now, 2-8 therefore, be it 2-9 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 2-10 Legislature hereby state explicitly its legislative intent and 2-11 direct the president of The University of Texas at Arlington to use 2-12 the funds designated in Rider No. 3 in the appropriations made to 2-13 the university by House Bill 1, the General Appropriations Act, 2-14 solely for the operation of the Center for Mexican American Studies 2-15 at that institution; and, be it further 2-16 RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be 2-17 forwarded to the president of The University of Texas at Arlington 2-18 and to the board of regents of The University of Texas System as 2-19 official expressions of legislative will and intent by the House of 2-20 Representatives of the 74th Texas Legislature.