R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is pleased to 1-2 recognize February 28, 2001, as Rural Hospital Day at the State 1-3 Capitol and to pay tribute to all those associated with the Texas 1-4 Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals (TORCH); and 1-5 WHEREAS, TORCH serves as an advocate for rural and community 1-6 hospitals in the Lone Star State, providing leadership while 1-7 addressing their special needs and issues; currently representing 1-8 162 hospitals across the state, this respected association focuses 1-9 on the issues unique to acute care hospitals with fewer than 150 1-10 beds; and 1-11 WHEREAS, A member-driven organization, TORCH offers a wide 1-12 range of educational and advocacy services, in addition to 1-13 supplying need-to-know information and quickly answering health 1-14 care concerns; in its more than 10 years of existence, the rural 1-15 and small communities in Texas have benefited immeasurably from the 1-16 organization's efforts to ensure affordable and high-quality health 1-17 care at the local level; and 1-18 WHEREAS, The 162 hospitals in Texas' rural and smaller 1-19 communities bound together by TORCH have shown an impressive desire 1-20 to provide for the well-being of Texans across the state, and it is 1-21 most appropriate to honor the men and women involved with these 1-22 outstanding health care facilities and the TORCH organization; now, 1-23 therefore, be it 1-24 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 2-1 Legislature hereby recognize February 28, 2001, as Rural Hospital 2-2 Day at the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation from 2-3 the Texas Organization of Rural & Community Hospitals sincere best 2-4 wishes for an enjoyable observance. Telford _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 294 was adopted by the House on February 28, 2001, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House