By Wise                                          H.R. No. 315

      75R8440 JHS-D                           

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, Volunteers from the Senior Companion Program will

 1-2     visit Austin on March 13, 1997, to observe the 75th Texas

 1-3     Legislature, and it is a privilege to welcome these exemplary

 1-4     Texans to the Capitol City; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, The Senior Companion Program creates an opportunity

 1-6     for active Texans, age 60 and older, to help fellow seniors

 1-7     suffering from illness, frailty, or loneliness; this vital service

 1-8     allows volunteers to keep their minds and bodies active while

 1-9     providing a valuable alternative to expensive institutionalized

1-10     care; and

1-11           WHEREAS, The program is designed to help Texas' senior

1-12     citizens in a variety of ways, from providing transportation to the

1-13     grocery store or the doctor's office to offering a sympathetic ear

1-14     in times of trouble; in its first year of implementation,

1-15     volunteers provided more than 8,000 hours of aid, and in 1995-1996,

1-16     the Senior Companions of Texas gave more than one-half million

1-17     hours of service to needy seniors; and

1-18           WHEREAS, Americans are living longer, healthier, and more

1-19     productive lives, yielding a larger volunteer base from which to

1-20     draw support for those older Texans who need regular assistance,

1-21     yet are otherwise capable of living on their own; this program's

1-22     volunteers have demonstrated a tremendous work ethic and a

1-23     remarkable commitment to their peers, and the members of this

1-24     chamber are proud to honor them at this time; now, therefore, be it

 2-1           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

 2-2     Legislature hereby welcome the Senior Companion Program volunteers

 2-3     to the State Capitol and congratulate these fine citizens on their

 2-4     efforts in behalf of this outstanding program; and, be it further

 2-5           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

 2-6     prepared for these volunteers as an expression of high regard by

 2-7     the Texas House of Representatives.