1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 362 1-3 WHEREAS, The Tuition Equalization Grant (TEG) program 1-4 celebrates its 30th anniversary of service to the citizens of 1-5 Texas during the 77th Legislative Session; and 1-6 WHEREAS, The program was created "to provide the maximum 1-7 possible utilization of existing educational resources and 1-8 facilities . . . both public and private," thereby promoting a 1-9 diversity of educational opportunities and greater accessibility 1-10 to the campuses of independent colleges and universities; and 1-11 WHEREAS, The TEG program has achieved remarkable success 1-12 in pursuing its mission, and the 500,000th TEG program grant will 1-13 be made during the 77th Legislative Session; and 1-14 WHEREAS, The program has been of incalculable value to 1-15 grant recipients because of the need-based financial assistance it 1-16 provides to low-income and moderate-income students whose average 1-17 family income is less than $30,000 per year; and 1-18 WHEREAS, The TEG program helps to bridge the tuition gap 1-19 between independent and public institutions and to guarantee that 1-20 every Texas student has the opportunity to attend the college of 1-21 his or her choice regardless of financial background; and 1-22 WHEREAS, Each year the program helps more than 25,000 1-23 students, more than 43 percent of whom are minority students, 2-1 to meet their educational expenses at one of more than 40 2-2 independent institutions and to undertake studies ranging from 2-3 doctoral programs at major research universities to basic junior 2-4 college studies; and 2-5 WHEREAS, The legislation creating the TEG program was 2-6 drafted for its sponsor, Representative Lynn Nabers, by a 2-7 member of his staff, Gary Price, and was cosponsored by 2-8 Representative Grant Jones in the Texas House of Representatives 2-9 and carried by Senator Jack Hightower in the Texas Senate during 2-10 the 61st Legislature, when it was not passed; it was subsequently 2-11 filed by Representative Menton Murray and Senator J. P. Word and 2-12 Senator Ralph Hall during the 62nd Legislature, when it was passed 2-13 with the support and leadership of Speaker Gus Mutscher and 2-14 Lieutenant Governor Ben Barnes and was signed into law by 2-15 Governor Preston Smith; and 2-16 WHEREAS, In 1970 a young employee of Abilene Christian 2-17 University, Dr. Robert Hunter, became the executive secretary of 2-18 Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas, Incorporated, and 2-19 organized the association's member presidents, faculty, staff, 2-20 students, alumni, and trustees to persuade the 62nd Legislature 2-21 to pass the TEG legislation; in 1986, he became a member of the 2-22 legislature, where he still serves his community and state; and 2-23 WHEREAS, In 1981 the Honorable Bruce Gibson, a graduate 2-24 of Texas Christian University, became the first TEG recipient to be 2-25 elected to the Texas House of Representatives; he was joined there 2-26 in 1991 by fellow TEG recipients Representative Curtis Soileau, 3-1 Representative Tom Cate, and Representative Robert Puente, who 3-2 graduated from the South Texas College of Law, Texas Lutheran 3-3 University, and Saint Mary's University, respectively; and 3-4 WHEREAS, Eight members of the 77th Legislature, including 3-5 Representative Jose Menendez and Representative Todd Smith, 3-6 who received degrees from Southern Methodist University; 3-7 Representative Joe Nixon, Representative Robert Puente, 3-8 Representative Arthur Reyna, Representative Carlos Uresti, 3-9 and Representative Miguel Wise, who received degrees from 3-10 Saint Mary's University; and Representative Ignacio Salinas, 3-11 who graduated from the University of Dallas, received TEG program 3-12 grants to attend college; and 3-13 WHEREAS, It is fitting that all the members of the 3-14 Texas Senate join with their distinguished colleagues who received 3-15 a TEG in celebrating the great success of this outstanding program; 3-16 now, therefore, be it 3-17 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 3-18 77th Legislature, hereby recognize the 30th anniversary of the 3-19 Tuition Equalization Grant program and commend those former members 3-20 of the Texas Legislature and their staffs who had the foresight to 3-21 create the program and the legislative skill to ensure its success; 3-22 and, be it further 3-23 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be 3-24 prepared for each sponsor of the Tuition Equalization Grant 3-25 legislation and for Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas, 3-26 Incorporated, for distribution to the colleges and universities in 4-1 the program as an expression of high regard by the Texas Senate. 4-2 Fraser 4-3 Carona 4-4 ______________________________________ 4-5 President of the Senate 4-6 I hereby certify that the above 4-7 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 4-8 on February 27, 2001. 4-9 ______________________________________ 4-10 Secretary of the Senate 4-11 ______________________________________ 4-12 Member, Texas Senate 4-13 ______________________________________ 4-14 Member, Texas Senate