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