| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico has earned |
|
|
the Sembrador del Bien Award from the Sin Fronteras Organizing |
|
|
Project for his notable efforts to promote justice and positive |
|
|
change in his community; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Bill Richardson has dedicated his life to the public |
|
|
good as a United States congressman, ambassador to the United |
|
|
Nations, United States secretary of energy, and now governor of New |
|
|
Mexico; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Mr. Richardson began his career as a public servant |
|
|
as the U.S. representative for New Mexico's 3rd Congressional |
|
|
District; his many accomplishments during his 15 years of service |
|
|
in this position include bringing new industry to the state, |
|
|
helping to create the Jemez National Recreation Area and protect |
|
|
the Rio Grande and the San Juan Basin, and successfully winning the |
|
|
release of hostages, military personnel, and prisoners in North |
|
|
Korea, Iraq, Cuba, and Sudan; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Nominated to represent the United States at the |
|
|
United Nations by President Bill Clinton in 1997, Ambassador |
|
|
Richardson worked to promote universal human rights and democracy, |
|
|
to improve the status of women in foreign lands, and to stop the |
|
|
spread of international terrorism and the proliferation of |
|
|
biological weapons; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate as |
|
|
secretary of energy in 1998, Secretary Richardson was a champion |
|
|
for clean and renewable technologies, for environmental |
|
|
responsibility, and for reducing the nation's dependence on foreign |
|
|
sources of oil; he was the first secretary of energy to request the |
|
|
congress to provide compensation for Department of Energy workers |
|
|
whose health had been affected by working in nuclear power plants; |
|
|
and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In his role as governor, Bill Richardson has |
|
|
garnered support across party lines by improving education, cutting |
|
|
taxes, expanding access to health care, helping to develop |
|
|
renewable energy, and building a stronger economy for the people of |
|
|
New Mexico; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Governor Richardson has further served his state and |
|
|
nation as chairman of the Western Governors' Association and the |
|
|
Border Governors' Conference, as chairman of Freedom House, a |
|
|
nonpartisan organization promoting democracy worldwide, and as a |
|
|
member of the boards of the Natural Resources Defense Council and |
|
|
United Way International; for his work freeing hostages and |
|
|
prisoners around the world, he has been nominated four times for the |
|
|
Nobel Peace Prize; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The strength of our communities depends on the |
|
|
commitment and dedication of leaders who, like Bill Richardson, use |
|
|
their considerable talents to benefit others; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby congratulate Governor Bill Richardson of New |
|
|
Mexico on winning the Sembrador del Bien Award from the Sin |
|
|
Fronteras Organizing Project and extend best wishes to him for |
|
|
continued success; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for Governor Richardson as an expression of high regard by |
|
|
the Texas House of Representatives. |