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.