HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, The debt of gratitude that the nation owes to the 1-2 men and women who have served in the United States armed forces is 1-3 immense; these brave veterans have defended the values that our 1-4 country holds dear, many facing perils of life and limb to carry 1-5 out their duties; and 1-6 WHEREAS, Throughout the years, the people of the United 1-7 States have chosen to reward veterans for their service; various 1-8 federal and state programs designed to assist veterans with many 1-9 aspects of their lives, such as obtaining an education, buying a 1-10 home, and receiving quality medical care, have been created to show 1-11 appreciation for their efforts; and 1-12 WHEREAS, One of the most innovative programs of this nature 1-13 is state-owned veterans homes; these facilities represent a unique 1-14 partnership of veterans organizations, health care providers, and 1-15 governmental entities at the local, state, and national levels 1-16 working together to provide affordable, quality long-term care for 1-17 veterans; and 1-18 WHEREAS, While some states have funded state-owned veterans 1-19 homes since the end of the Civil War, Texas has only recently begun 1-20 to support such homes; under authority granted by the 75th 1-21 Legislature, the Veterans' Land Board is currently establishing 1-22 four state veterans homes and has secured funding from the United 1-23 States Department of Veterans Affairs to cover over half of the 1-24 construction costs; and 2-1 WHEREAS, Although the construction of these veterans homes is 2-2 a positive step, Texas is challenged by a growing aged veteran 2-3 population, and several additional regions will soon need long-term 2-4 care facilities to serve veterans in their areas; and 2-5 WHEREAS, The need for additional state veterans homes was 2-6 documented by the Needs Analysis and Feasibility Study conducted by 2-7 the Texas Veterans Commission; and 2-8 WHEREAS, Given that Texas will need a total of 42 veterans 2-9 homes to meet projected long-term care demands, the Veterans' Land 2-10 Board should be ever vigilant in monitoring where strong need for 2-11 such homes exists and should take action to ensure that funding is 2-12 available; now, therefore, be it 2-13 RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-14 hereby urge the Veterans' Land Board to request funding from the 2-15 United States Department of Veterans Affairs for funds for future 2-16 construction of veterans homes throughout the State of Texas as the 2-17 need arises; and, be it further 2-18 RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official 2-19 copy of this resolution to the chairman and members of the 2-20 Veterans' Land Board. Haggerty Chavez _______________________________ _______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 134 was adopted by the House on April 23, 1999, by a non-record vote; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.C.R. No. 134 on May 19, 1999, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 134 was adopted by the Senate, as amended, on May 17, 1999, by a viva-voce vote. _______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________ Date _____________________ Governor