By: Barrientos S.C.R. No. 10
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1-1 WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of Texas takes great
1-2 pride in recognizing J. J. "Jake" Pickle for his 31 years of loyal
1-3 public service representing the 10th Congressional District; and
1-4 WHEREAS, Jake Pickle's election to the United States House of
1-5 Representatives in 1963 was the beginning of what proved to be an
1-6 outstanding congressional career that spanned 16 terms; and
1-7 WHEREAS, During his illustrious tenure, Jake Pickle worked
1-8 hard on behalf of our nation and on behalf of our state, and his
1-9 leadership contributed significantly to the growth of the City of
1-10 Austin and its development into a successful high-tech center; and
1-11 WHEREAS, The third-ranking Democrat on the powerful Ways and
1-12 Means Committee, Jake Pickle was deeply involved in the economic,
1-13 tax, trade, and health legislation that dominated Congress in the
1-14 1980s and 1990s; and
1-15 WHEREAS, A highly regarded politician and statesman,
1-16 Congressman Pickle became a champion in the battle for Social
1-17 Security reform and became known as the "Guardian of Social
1-18 Security" after passing a reform bill in 1983; and
1-19 WHEREAS, As Chairman of the Ways and Means Oversight
1-20 Committee, he is credited with saving taxpayers an estimated $15
1-21 billion when his investigation of a sell and lease back scheme in
1-22 the military led to passage of restrictive legislation; and
1-23 WHEREAS, He authored legislation in 1987 to restore solvency
2-1 to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation and strengthen pension
2-2 plans, fought to improve the Medicare program, secured higher
2-3 reimbursement for hospitals that rely on government funding for
2-4 indigent care, and garnered assistance for low-income housing
2-5 projects; and
2-6 WHEREAS, One of the most remarkable achievements in Jake
2-7 Pickle's career was his success in bringing SEMATECH to Austin, a
2-8 multibillion dollar semiconductor industry that has helped increase
2-9 United States' control of the semiconductor manufacturing industry
2-10 and reduce our nation's reliance on foreign products; and
2-11 WHEREAS, Austin is proud to be home of the J. J. Pickle
2-12 Research Campus, a world-class technology research facility, and
2-13 the city owes many of its improvements to Jake Pickle's initiative
2-14 and perseverance, including its designation as a port of entry;
2-15 Congressman Pickle has helped attract major grants for fusion and
2-16 geothermal research at The University of Texas and has helped
2-17 establish a number of flood control and soil conservation projects;
2-18 and
2-19 WHEREAS, The creation of the Gary Job Corps, one of the first
2-20 and largest youth programs in the United States, is due in large
2-21 part to Congressman Pickle's committed advocacy on its behalf; and
2-22 WHEREAS, Jake Pickle is past president of the Founder Lions
2-23 Club of Austin and through his lifetime of community service has
2-24 earned numerous awards; he was named 1987 Austinite of the Year and
2-25 Congressman of the Year in 1989; and
3-1 WHEREAS, A resourceful leader of many talents and a
3-2 distinguished gentleman, Jake Pickle deserves praise for his
3-3 exceptional work on behalf of our state and our nation, and the
3-4 citizens of Austin warmly welcome the return of this generous and
3-5 revered public servant; now, therefore, be it
3-6 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas
3-7 hereby express appreciation for the superior accomplishments of J.
3-8 J. "Jake" Pickle and extend to him best wishes for the retirement
3-9 years ahead; and, be it further
3-10 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared for him
3-11 as an expression of highest esteem from the Texas Legislature.