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79S20645 MMS-D



By:  Madden                                                       H.R. No. 236







R E S O L U T I O N

	WHEREAS, Melissa Noriega has rendered sterling service as the 

temporary acting representative for House District 145 in the 79th 

Texas Legislature; and

	WHEREAS, Representative Melissa Noriega was selected for the 

post by her husband, Representative Rick Noriega, after he was 

called to active duty in Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring 

Freedom, and her nomination was approved unanimously by the house 

of representatives on January 11, 2005, the opening day of the 

regular session; and

	WHEREAS, Concerned, especially, with issues that affect the 

everyday lives and well-being of her fellow Texans, Representative 

Melissa Noriega takes particular pride in the passage of H.B. 1018, 

which she authored, and S.B. 1186, which she sponsored; the first 

act will allow private school bus operators to continue their vital 

service to working-class families who fear letting their children 

walk to school unattended through dangerous neighborhoods; the 

second measure will save lives by allowing certain victims of 

family violence to vacate leased premises without penalties, and 

also allows military families who meet certain criteria to vacate 

leased premises when a military spouse or sponsor of dependents is 

deployed to another location for extended military duty; and

	WHEREAS, Altogether, Representative Noriega has authored 37 

bills and resolutions and sponsored 7; she has also been a valued 

member of the House Committees on Corrections and Defense Affairs &

State-Federal Relations; and

	WHEREAS, At the end of the regular session, the Texas House 

Democratic Caucus chose Melissa Noriega as the first recipient of 

the group's Joe E. Moreno Freshman of the Year Service Award; and

	WHEREAS, Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Representative 

Noriega has spent most of her life in Texas; before resigning her 

post with the Houston Independent School District in order to take 

her seat in the legislature, she served as a manager of special 

projects and district initiatives in the HISD Professional 

Development Services Department; she earlier worked as a research 

and evaluation associate for the school district, during which time 

she was instrumental in dramatically raising parent involvement in 

Title I programs in her administrative district, as well as in 

providing computer and leadership training for parents in English, 

Spanish, and Vietnamese; and

	WHEREAS, Long involved in her community, Melissa Noriega has 

served as president of the Eastwood Civic Association and shared 

her time and talents with a number of other community 

organizations; she currently serves as a member of the Children's 

Ministry Council of Christ Church Cathedral, the executive 

committee of Parents for Public Schools, and the long-range 

planning committee for the University of Houston Charter School; 

and

	WHEREAS, Melissa and Rick Noriega are the proud parents of 

two sons, Alex, a student at Texas A&M University, and Ricky, who 

attends the University of Houston Charter School; and

	WHEREAS, Since the convening of the 79th Legislature, Melissa 

Noriega has exemplified the highest ideals of public service, 

handling the myriad responsibilities of her office with keen 

intelligence, unfailing graciousness to her colleagues in the 

house, and tireless dedication to the welfare of her constituents 

and the people of Texas; now, therefore, be it

	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 

Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby honor Melissa Noriega for 

her outstanding service as the temporary acting representative for 

House District 145 and extend to her sincere appreciation for her 

able contributions to the work of this chamber; and, be it further

	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 

prepared for Representative Noriega as an expression of high regard 

by the Texas House of Representatives.