By: Zaffirini S.R. No. 1327
1-1 SENATE RESOLUTION
1-2 WHEREAS, The Texas Committee for the Humanities, a state
1-3 program of the National Endowment for the Humanities, has been a
1-4 catalyst in fostering public understanding and appreciation of
1-5 Texas' participation in the global community and enlarges our
1-6 awareness of the role the Lone Star State can play; and
1-7 WHEREAS, The committee outlined what was being done to
1-8 advance Texas' position in the international marketplace and made
1-9 recommendations for future planning in its special report, Texas in
1-10 the 21st Century: The International Agenda, published in January of
1-11 1991; one of its recommendations was the establishment of a foreign
1-12 language academy; and
1-13 WHEREAS, The Texas Academy of Foreign Language and Culture
1-14 was created during the 73rd Legislature; and
1-15 WHEREAS, The mission of the academy is to advance the study
1-16 of foreign languages and cultures and to promote educational and
1-17 cultural exchanges between Texas and its current and prospective
1-18 trading partners; the academy is to accomplish its mission through
1-19 contracts with the Texas Committee for the Humanities; and
1-20 WHEREAS, Over the course of the past three years the Texas
1-21 Committee for the Humanities has sponsored 45 programs designed to
1-22 increase understanding and lead to the improvement of cross-cultural
1-23 relations; their activities have included public lectures, films,
2-1 video programming, symposia, and conferences; overall plans include
2-2 scholarships for Texas students majoring in a foreign language and
2-3 in-state summer camps for foreign language learning and practice;
2-4 and
2-5 WHEREAS, International business already occupies a large
2-6 niche in our economy and, with the passage of the North American
2-7 Free Trade Agreement, Texas can confidently expect more foreign
2-8 dollars to increase our future prosperity; the probable passage of
2-9 the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, will offer additional
2-10 opportunities, as well; and
2-11 WHEREAS, The North American Free Trade Agreement and its
2-12 impact upon Texas immediately increase the importance of the Texas
2-13 Academy of Foreign Language and Culture in assuring Texas becomes
2-14 the leader in the new global marketplace; and
2-15 WHEREAS, These benefits are not merely economic, because our
2-16 increased person-to-person contact and understanding of our trading
2-17 partners' needs will be an important part of the continued growth,
2-18 learning, and enjoyment of life that Texans feel when they explore
2-19 new places and people; and
2-20 WHEREAS, Sharpening our awareness of how other cultures
2-21 think, and, especially, being able to read and understand their
2-22 language and to speak it with some degree of skill, will prepare
2-23 us to attain a very significant advantage in trade and tourism
2-24 relations while broadening our own perspectives; and
2-25 WHEREAS, The Texas Committee for the Humanities deserves
3-1 special recognition for its successful efforts to secure the
3-2 assistance of private organizations, state agencies, and
3-3 knowledgeable individuals whenever necessary in order to fulfill
3-4 the duties which relate to the Texas Academy of Foreign Language
3-5 and Culture; now, therefore, be it
3-6 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
3-7 74th Legislature, hereby express its gratitude and appreciation
3-8 for the accomplishments of the Texas Committee for the Humanities;
3-9 and, be it further
3-10 RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution be prepared for the
3-11 governing board of the Texas Committee for the Humanities as an
3-12 official expression of gratitude from the Texas Senate.
3-13 ______________________________________
3-14 President of the Senate
3-15 I hereby certify that the above
3-16 Resolution was adopted by the Senate
3-17 on May 29, 1995.
3-18 ______________________________________
3-19 Secretary of the Senate
3-20 ______________________________________
3-21 Member, Texas Senate