HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, Texas military veterans have served their country 1-2 and Texas with great honor and distinction, fighting and dying for 1-3 freedom in world wars, regional interventions, and humanitarian 1-4 endeavors around the world; and 1-5 WHEREAS, The military presence in Texas has a significant 1-6 economic impact on the Lone Star State each year, with direct and 1-7 indirect economic contributions from veterans and military services 1-8 estimated to represent more than $20 billion in payroll and 1-9 contracts and 1,000,000 jobs; and 1-10 WHEREAS, The unique skill and insight of veterans is 1-11 underrepresented in decision-making bodies of the Texas government; 1-12 Texas has the highest percentage of veterans in the general 1-13 population, yet the lowest percentage of veterans in government 1-14 employment of any state in the nation; and 1-15 WHEREAS, Veterans should be rewarded for their heroic 1-16 sacrifices with substantial assistance for higher education and job 1-17 training, and this assistance should meet the demands of the 1-18 rapidly changing global economy and the downsizing of the military 1-19 infrastructure; and 1-20 WHEREAS, The Texas Constitution grants the governor the 1-21 authority to make appointments to Texas boards and commissions with 1-22 the advice and consent of the senate, and the governor should use 1-23 this power to increase veterans' representation on state boards and 1-24 commissions to better reflect their many contributions to our 2-1 state; now, therefore, be it 2-2 RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-3 hereby encourage the governor to consider increasing veteran 2-4 representation on Texas boards and commissions where this 2-5 perspective would benefit Texas veterans, especially on the Texas 2-6 Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Texas Workforce 2-7 Commission; and, be it further 2-8 RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official 2-9 copy of this resolution to the governor of the State of Texas. Turner of Coleman _______________________________ _______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 2 was adopted by the House on May 2, 1997, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 2 was adopted by the Senate on May 26, 1997, by a viva-voce vote. _______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________ Date _____________________ Governor