By Hinojosa                                            H.R. No. 399
         76R9278 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 10, 1999, to observe the 76th 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 since that
1-16     time, the Senior Companions of Texas have given hundreds of
1-17     thousands of 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 76th 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.