By Counts                                              H.R. No. 604

         75R11063 JTR-D                           

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, On April 16, 1997, representatives of county

 1-2     government from across Texas will be in Austin to celebrate County

 1-3     Government Day at the Capitol, and this event offers an ideal

 1-4     opportunity to recognize the key role of county government in the

 1-5     Lone Star State's continued prosperity; and

 1-6           WHEREAS, Known as "grassroots government" for its proximity

 1-7     to the people it serves, county government's major responsibilities

 1-8     include the construction of roads and recreational facilities; the

 1-9     operation of jails and judicial systems; the maintenance of public

1-10     records; and the registration of voters; and

1-11           WHEREAS, County government is also the source of law

1-12     enforcement and health and social services for many Texans, and

1-13     these indispensable services provide the essential basis for both

1-14     high quality of life and a successful economy; and

1-15           WHEREAS, In recent years, many responsibilities traditionally

1-16     held by federal and state governments have been mandated or

1-17     delegated to the county level, and as a result the importance of

1-18     county government has grown tremendously; and

1-19           WHEREAS, As Texas enters the 21st century, county government

1-20     will play an increasingly vital part in the lives of the 18 million

1-21     Texans it serves, and the dedicated professionals who comprise the

1-22     state's 254 county governments look forward to the challenges and

1-23     opportunities of the years to come; now, therefore, be it

1-24           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

 2-1     Legislature hereby recognize April 16, 1997, as County Government

 2-2     Day at the Capitol and extend to representatives of county

 2-3     government sincere best wishes for continued success in the future.