By:  Bivins                                           S.C.R. No. 76
                            SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, The future of our state and nation depends largely
 1-2     on our children for the challenges of tomorrow must be met by the
 1-3     youth of today; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, To nurture children and to encourage their growth
 1-5     toward a healthy, productive adulthood must be one of the primary
 1-6     goals of any society; by extending our love and confidence to the
 1-7     next generation, we are investing in one of our greatest natural
 1-8     resources--our children; and
 1-9           WHEREAS, Despite the great pride we take in our children,
1-10     reports of child abuse and neglect have increased significantly
1-11     during the past three decades; in 1996 alone, child protective
1-12     service agencies received approximately two million reports of
1-13     alleged child abuse and neglect involving an estimated three
1-14     million children; and
1-15           WHEREAS, To bring this terrible tragedy to the forefront of
1-16     this nation's priorities, there must be increased dialogue on the
1-17     subject of child abuse and the protection of our children; to this
1-18     end, we must heighten visibility of the issue as a matter of
1-19     national concern; and
1-20           WHEREAS, Each year the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee of
1-21     the United States Postal Service selects subjects for commemorative
1-22     postage stamps and postal stationery that depict people, events, or
1-23     issues of national significance, and child abuse is a most
1-24     deserving topic for future selection; now, therefore, be it
 2-1           RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas
 2-2     hereby urge the Postmaster General of the United States and the
 2-3     members of the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee to recommend the
 2-4     issuance of a commemorative United States postage stamp on the
 2-5     subject of child abuse to foster increased awareness of the ongoing
 2-6     need to better protect the children of this nation; and, be it
 2-7     further
 2-8           RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official
 2-9     copy of this resolution to the Postmaster General of the United
2-10     States and to the members of the Citizens' Stamp Advisory
2-11     Committee.