By Pitts                                               H.R. No. 722
         77R11951 MMS-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, Our colleague and friend the Honorable Paul C.
 1-2     Moreno of El Paso is celebrating his 70th birthday on April 28,
 1-3     2001, and he has spent almost half of his 70 years rendering
 1-4     immeasurable service to the people of El Paso and to Texans
 1-5     throughout the Lone Star State as a member of this chamber; and
 1-6           WHEREAS, A native of El Paso County, Mr. Moreno joined the
 1-7     United States Marine Corps following high school, and during his
 1-8     six years with the Marines he received numerous awards for service
 1-9     in Korea; he subsequently earned a B.B.A. from Texas Western
1-10     College and a law degree from The University of Texas; and
1-11           WHEREAS, Committed to the beliefs that everyone is entitled
1-12     to sound legal representation and that all voices should be heard,
1-13     he is a cofounder of El Paso Legal Assistance and a founding member
1-14     of the Tejano Democrats; and
1-15           WHEREAS, This highly respected gentleman began his
1-16     legislative career in 1967 as a member of the 60th Legislature; he
1-17     has served during the terms of eight governors and now ranks third
1-18     in seniority among all current members; he also has achieved the
1-19     distinction of holding the longest tenure of anyone elected to a
1-20     state office from El Paso County, as well as the longest tenure of
1-21     any Mexican American in the Texas House of Representatives; and
1-22           WHEREAS, Throughout his career, he has fought courageously
1-23     for such causes as single-member districts, equitable funding for
1-24     poor school districts, and better-funded graduate training at
 2-1     universities along the Texas border; in addition, he has worked to
 2-2     improve teachers' salaries and teacher retirement programs; and
 2-3           WHEREAS, During the 76th Legislature, Representative Moreno
 2-4     was instrumental in obtaining more than $100 million in
 2-5     appropriations for The University of Texas at El Paso and for the
 2-6     Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso; he also
 2-7     played a vital role in securing two new district courts for El Paso
 2-8     County; and
 2-9           WHEREAS, Representative Moreno's unflagging efforts in behalf
2-10     of his constituents have won him numerous local, state, and
2-11     national awards; appropriately, because of his tireless support of
2-12     education, the El Paso Independent School District in 1996 named an
2-13     elementary school in his honor; and
2-14           WHEREAS, A tenacious advocate for the people of El Paso and
2-15     for all Texans who have been historically underrepresented,
2-16     Mr. Moreno is considered by many people as the "Conscience of the
2-17     House," and it is a privilege and a great pleasure to pay tribute
2-18     to him at this time; now, therefore, be it
2-19           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
2-20     Legislature hereby congratulate the Honorable Paul C. Moreno on the
2-21     occasion of his 70th birthday and extend to him sincere best wishes
2-22     for a joyous celebration.