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79R11113 KO-D

By:  Keel                                                         H.R. No. 942



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, American citizens have joined together annually for 
the past 25 years to recognize the needs and rights of crime victims 
and survivors during National Crime Victims' Rights Week each 
April; and
	WHEREAS, The silver anniversary of this important event 
provides an opportunity to reflect on the devastating impact of 
crime and terrorism on victims and on the country, and to strengthen 
our national resolve to ensure that victims' needs are identified 
and addressed; and
	WHEREAS, President Ronald Reagan first declared National 
Crime Victims' Rights Week in 1981 in order to focus our nation's 
attention on the plight of crime victims, and since that time the 
crime victim assistance field has expanded from a handful of 
programs to include more than 10,000 community-based and justice 
system programs as well as over 32,000 federal and state statutes 
that define and protect victims' rights; and
	WHEREAS, America, as a nation, and we, as Texans, recognize 
that justice is not served until crime victims are served, that 
crime and violence in our state and in our country affect us all, 
and that victims' rights are a critical component of the principle 
of "justice for all"; and
	WHEREAS, Justice cannot truly be served until all those hurt 
by crime--our mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, sisters and 
brothers, and neighbors and friends--are provided support and 
assistance in the aftermath of victimization; and
	WHEREAS, Despite impressive progress in the past 25 years, 
many challenges remain to ensure that all crime victims and 
survivors are treated with dignity and respect, that they are 
recognized as key participants within our systems of justice, and 
that they are afforded services that offer them help and hope; and
	WHEREAS, The citizens of Texas recognize that we serve 
justice by serving victims of crime and that by helping victims and 
survivors of crime, we help make our homes, our neighborhoods, our 
communities, and our entire nation stronger, safer, and more 
secure; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature hereby recognize the week of April 10-16, 2005, as 
Texas Crime Victims' Rights Week and that victims of crime as well 
as those who serve them be honored this week and throughout the 
year.