By Shapleigh                                          S.C.R. No. 45
         76R2409 EFD-D                           
                                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 level
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, there are certain areas of the state still in need
 2-3     of such facilities; for example, under current plans, veterans in
 2-4     El Paso County will have to travel over 300 miles in order to reach
 2-5     the closest dedicated long-term care facility; and
 2-6           WHEREAS, Many retired veterans choose to live in the El Paso
 2-7     area because of its location near Fort Bliss and its temperate
 2-8     climate; El Paso County is an ideal location for a state veterans
 2-9     home because of its older veteran population coupled with its
2-10     geographic isolation from such existing or planned facilities; now,
2-11     therefore, be it
2-12           RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas
2-13     hereby urge the Veterans' Land Board to request funding from the
2-14     United States Department of Veterans Affairs for the establishment
2-15     of a state veterans home in El Paso County, and, that upon securing
2-16     such funding, to begin the process of constructing the facility;
2-17     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.