79R18310 KO-D

By:  Swinford                                                     H.R. No. 2071



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Speaker Tom Craddick and Representatives David 
Swinford, Robby Cook, Rob Eissler, Carter Casteel, Rick Hardcastle, 
Ruben Hope, and Lois Kolkhorst are supporters of Texas A&M 
University and its outstanding Agricultural and Natural Resources 
Policy Internship Program and have sponsored interns during the 
79th legislative session; and 
	WHEREAS, The ANRP program has sent student interns to Austin 
and Washington, D.C., since 1990, and the program's 15th 
anniversary provides an excellent opportunity to celebrate the 
accomplishments of the program and recognize the ANRP participants 
who are currently working with members of the legislature; and
	WHEREAS, The internship program was established when a member 
of the U.S. Congress sought an intern from Texas A&M University with 
a background in agricultural and natural resources; since then, 425 
ANRP students have worked in our nation's and state's capitals, 
interning not only for state agencies and legislative offices in 
Austin but also for the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Association of State 
Departments of Agriculture, and Texas congressional offices in 
Washington; and
	WHEREAS, Applicants face a rigorous screening process and are 
evaluated for suitability as ANRP interns based on such criteria as 
leadership in academic and extracurricular activities, 
interpersonal skills, writing ability, grade point average, and 
knowledge and interest in policy issues; once selected, interns 
receive scholarships to help defray tuition and other expenses and 
academic course credit for their work; most importantly, they gain 
invaluable insight into public service and firsthand knowledge of 
the policy-making process; as evidence of their enhanced 
marketability in the workforce, at least 15 alumni of the program 
are currently working as staff members in the Texas Legislature and 
more than 50 alumni have returned to Washington to secure full-time 
positions following graduation from Texas A&M; and
	WHEREAS, Under the leadership of Dr. Elsa Murano, vice 
chancellor and dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences 
and director of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, 12 
students are currently serving as ANRP interns for the 79th Texas 
Legislature; they are Marca Ewers, Scott Goodwin, Kyle Graves, Keri 
Hoelscher, Weston Holmstrom, Laci LaPlante, Stephanie Largent, 
Dalynn Rogers, Shelby Smith, Rebecca Thompson, Sally Wright, and 
Tom Ben Williams; and
	WHEREAS, These dedicated students from the College of 
Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University have provided 
vital support to the legislature throughout the session while 
gaining valuable experience in public service, and it is a pleasure 
to recognize the contributions of these exceptional young men and 
women as well as the role of this outstanding program in preparing a 
new generation of leaders; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature hereby commend the current participants of the Texas 
A&M University Agricultural and Natural Resources Policy 
Internship Program for their hard work and dedication and honor 
this significant endeavor on the 15th anniversary of its founding; 
and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for the ANRP interns as an expression of appreciation and 
high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.