By Danburg H.C.R. No. 13 75R1757 MPC-F HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, The triumph of freedom and justice embodied in the 1-2 Constitution of the United States of America offers contemporary 1-3 and future generations a structure for ordered liberty that has 1-4 served this nation well. Those historic decisions, augmented from 1-5 time to time by amendment, gave us a constitution that has 1-6 permitted each generation to overcome the great social disturbances 1-7 of its time. The protection of the rights of speech and assembly 1-8 against overbearing government; the liberation of enslaved 1-9 Americans; the right of women to vote; restraints on the power of 1-10 concentrated wealth; the intelligent use of government to protect 1-11 the economic interests of all; the use of national military power 1-12 here and abroad, have all been achieved through this constitutional 1-13 framework; and 1-14 WHEREAS, The American people have well understood their 1-15 constitution and the values and powers it embodies. Liberty, 1-16 justice, and our physical and material security: these remain the 1-17 goals of our generation and our hope for future generations; and 1-18 WHEREAS, A constitution that protects our personal security 1-19 is the heart of the American system. Our constitution seeks to 1-20 ensure that each person is free of the threat of attack, free of 1-21 actions by others that diminish life, liberty, health, or property 1-22 or that prevent the "pursuit of happiness"; and 1-23 WHEREAS, The people of this nation are increasingly besieged 1-24 by attacks on their personal security, their health and the health 2-1 of their families, and their right to enjoy the air, water, and 2-2 natural resources of the nation. The continuing and growing threat 2-3 to the public health and the nation's natural resources is the 2-4 challenge of our generation; and 2-5 WHEREAS, We are the custodians of the health of our children, 2-6 of future generations, whose ability to breathe clean air, drink 2-7 healthful water, avoid poisons, and share in the spiritual 2-8 regeneration that comes from wilderness and nature is in danger. 2-9 We are obliged to protect each citizen from these threats as surely 2-10 as previous generations were obliged to enhance freedom, justice, 2-11 and prosperity; and 2-12 WHEREAS, A constitutional remedy is necessary to accomplish 2-13 this goal; and 2-14 WHEREAS, The decision to seek a constitutional remedy is 2-15 significant and necessary. The people have historically been 2-16 reluctant to amend the constitution except for the most compelling 2-17 reasons. Although this body shares that view, the commitment to 2-18 the public health and environmental security of our citizens and of 2-19 future generations is so important, and so deeply a part of 2-20 American tradition and values that it requires constitutional 2-21 status. We can no more rely on statutory protections for the 2-22 environment and public health than the nation of 130 years ago 2-23 could rely on law alone for the liberation of enslaved Americans, 2-24 nor could the nation of 80 years ago rely on law when it declared 2-25 the right of women's suffrage to be of constitutional value; now, 2-26 therefore, be it 2-27 RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas, 3-1 Regular Session, 1997, hereby memorialize the United States 3-2 Congress to propose and submit to the states the following 3-3 environmental amendment to the United States Constitution: 3-4 "The natural resources of the nation are the 3-5 heritage of present and future generations. The right 3-6 of each person to clean and healthful air and water, 3-7 and to the protection of the other natural resources of 3-8 the nation, shall not be infringed upon by any person"; 3-9 and, be it further 3-10 RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official 3-11 copies of this concurrent resolution to the speaker of the house of 3-12 representatives and president of the senate of the United States 3-13 Congress, and to all members of the Texas delegation to the 3-14 congress, with the request that this concurrent resolution be 3-15 officially entered in the Congressional Record as a memorial to the 3-16 Congress of the United States of America.