By Solis of Cameron                                     H.R. No. 73
         76R4479 BE-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The Rio Grande Marine Institute (RGMI) has been
 1-2     tremendously influential in the lives of many at-risk youths in
 1-3     South Texas by offering a range of educational and rehabilitation
 1-4     services, and these remarkable efforts are indeed worthy of special
 1-5     legislative recognition; and
 1-6           WHEREAS, RGMI is a branch of the Associated Marine Institutes
 1-7     (AMI) and is a nonprofit organization providing alternative
 1-8     correctional programs for teens; nationally, AMI and its affiliates
 1-9     have helped more than 12,000 youths, through 48 wilderness and
1-10     marine institutes in eight states and the Cayman Islands; and
1-11           WHEREAS, Based in Brownsville, RGMI is a contract care
1-12     provider for adjudicated youths committed to the Texas Youth
1-13     Commission, which recently bestowed "Exemplary Program Status" on
1-14     this unique organization; and
1-15           WHEREAS, The institute's innovative programs provide
1-16     experience-based marine and wilderness curricula, community service
1-17     opportunities, educational services, and strict discipline and
1-18     care; the results are outstanding and include an exceptionally high
1-19     program completion rate and low recidivism, and, of those students
1-20     who are eligible, more than 95 percent earn their GED; and
1-21           WHEREAS, RGMI and its participants have completed more than
1-22     3,000 hours of community service in the lower Rio Grande Valley,
1-23     and organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, the East
1-24     Brownsville Little League, the Laguna Atascosa Wildlife Refuge, and
 2-1     the San Benito Girls and Boys Club are but a few of the many
 2-2     programs to benefit from its efforts; and
 2-3           WHEREAS, Foremost, however, are the teens who have benefited
 2-4     from a program that emphasizes self-respect and responsibility,
 2-5     education and possibilities; the work being done in behalf of
 2-6     at-risk youth by the Rio Grande Marine Institute is of the utmost
 2-7     importance for the future of the youth of this state, and it is
 2-8     indeed appropriate to recognize these efforts at this time; now,
 2-9     therefore, be it
2-10           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
2-11     Legislature hereby honor the Rio Grande Marine Institute for its
2-12     successful work with the at-risk youth of Texas; and, be it further
2-13           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-14     prepared for the Rio Grande Marine Institute as an expression of
2-15     high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.