By Danburg H.R. No. 53 77R3625 JKB-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Honorable Helen Giddings has been elected 1-2 president of the National Order of Women Legislators (NOWL), and 1-3 her achievement is a great source of pride to her fellow Texans; 1-4 and 1-5 WHEREAS, NOWL is a nonpartisan organization that has been 1-6 serving women legislators and supporting effective government for 1-7 more than 60 years; with her swearing in on November 20, 2000, 1-8 Representative Giddings became both the first Texan and the first 1-9 African American to lead the organization as president; the 1999 1-10 vice president of NOWL, she was elected to her current position by 1-11 a unanimous vote of the group's 1,000 members; and 1-12 WHEREAS, Representing constituents in portions of Dallas, 1-13 Lancaster, and DeSoto for her fifth consecutive term, Ms. Giddings 1-14 has long distinguished herself as a member of this body, most 1-15 recently through her service on the House Appropriations Committee, 1-16 the House Business and Industry Committee, and the House 1-17 Administration Committee; additionally, she is the second vice 1-18 chair of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus and a former regional 1-19 vice president of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators; 1-20 and 1-21 WHEREAS, During her tenure as a state representative, she has 1-22 worked diligently to improve public education in Texas by leading 1-23 efforts to create the acclaimed "Read to Succeed" program and by 1-24 authoring legislation prohibiting liquor stores from being located 2-1 next to public schools; two scholarships have been formed in her 2-2 name as well: the Helen Giddings Scholarships for Exemplary 2-3 Students from South Africa at Prairie View A&M University and the 2-4 Helen Giddings Scholarship for high-achieving students in the 2-5 DeSoto area, both of which will positively affect the lives of many 2-6 deserving young people; and 2-7 WHEREAS, A small-business owner, community leader, and 2-8 experienced legislator, this esteemed woman has much to share with 2-9 her fellow legislators, and her tenure as president of NOWL will 2-10 undoubtedly usher in a period of great success and achievement for 2-11 both its members and the constituents they so ably represent; now, 2-12 therefore, be it 2-13 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 2-14 Legislature hereby congratulate the Honorable Helen Giddings on her 2-15 election as president of the National Order of Women Legislators 2-16 and extend to her sincere best wishes for continued success and 2-17 happiness; and, be it further 2-18 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-19 prepared for Ms. Giddings as an expression of high regard by her 2-20 colleagues in the Texas House of Representatives.