1-1     By:  Bivins                                           S.C.R. No. 76
 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed May 5, 1999; May 6, 1999, read first
 1-3     time and referred to Committee on Administration; May 11, 1999,
 1-4     reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 4, Nays 0;
 1-5     May 11, 1999, sent to printer.)
 1-6                        SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-7           WHEREAS, The future of our state and nation depends largely
 1-8     on our children for the challenges of tomorrow must be met by the
 1-9     youth of today; and
1-10           WHEREAS, To nurture children and to encourage their growth
1-11     toward a healthy, productive adulthood must be one of the primary
1-12     goals of any society; by extending our love and confidence to the
1-13     next generation, we are investing in one of our greatest natural
1-14     resources--our children; and
1-15           WHEREAS, Despite the great pride we take in our children,
1-16     reports of child abuse and neglect have increased significantly
1-17     during the past three decades;  in 1996 alone, child protective
1-18     service agencies received approximately two million reports of
1-19     alleged child abuse and neglect involving an estimated three
1-20     million children; and
1-21           WHEREAS, To bring this terrible tragedy to the forefront of
1-22     this nation's priorities, there must be increased dialogue on the
1-23     subject of child abuse and the protection of our children; to this
1-24     end, we must heighten visibility of the issue as a matter of
1-25     national concern; and
1-26           WHEREAS, Each year the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee of
1-27     the United States Postal Service selects subjects for commemorative
1-28     postage stamps and postal stationery that depict people, events, or
1-29     issues of national significance, and child abuse is a most
1-30     deserving topic for future selection; now, therefore, be it
1-31           RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas
1-32     hereby urge the Postmaster General of the United States and the
1-33     members of the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee to recommend the
1-34     issuance of a commemorative United States postage stamp on the
1-35     subject of child abuse to foster increased awareness of the ongoing
1-36     need to better protect the children of this nation; and, be it
1-37     further
1-38           RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official
1-39     copy of this resolution to the Postmaster General of the United
1-40     States and to the members of the Citizens' Stamp Advisory
1-41     Committee.
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