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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association, |
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also known as Local 341 of the International Association of Fire |
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Fighters, is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year; and |
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WHEREAS, Founded in 1902, as part of the American Federation |
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of Labor, the HPFFA originally consisted of 65 members dedicated to |
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the improvement of the Houston Fire Department; that same year the |
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organization successfully lobbied the city for changes in the |
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city's charter pertaining to pensions for firefighters and police |
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officers; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1918, the International Association of Fire |
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Fighters was chartered in Baltimore with 5,400 members, and in |
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1932, the HPFFA became Local 341 of the IAFF; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, with 100 fire stations protecting 617 square |
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miles and the lives and property of some 2.1 million citizens, the |
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3,800 dedicated men and women of the Houston Fire Department |
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constitute the third largest fire department in the country, and |
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they are represented by the nation's third largest firefighter's |
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union; and |
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WHEREAS, The HPFFA has been dedicated to taking care of its |
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own since the Great Depression, when it passed around the coffee can |
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for the families of members killed in the line of duty; in 1952 a |
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Relative Assistance Fund was set up, and in 1977 the Last Alarm Club |
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was formed to assist the spouses and dependents of fallen |
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firefighters; and |
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WHEREAS, The union has likewise been committed to the |
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professional development of its members, offering college classes |
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in fire science, lobbying successfully for tuition waivers for |
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firefighters, and supporting two-year and four-year degree |
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programs in firefighting at Houston Community College and the |
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University of Houston; and |
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WHEREAS, With its annual "Fill the Boot" program, Local 341 |
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has raised more money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association than |
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any other union in the nation, collecting over $500,000 in 2006 |
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alone and a total of $3.8 million in the last 11 years; and |
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WHEREAS, For 75 years, the HPFFA has worked to ensure |
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important benefits and vital equipment for the men and women of this |
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dangerous profession, and it is fitting to pay tribute to the |
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organization for its central role in supporting these dedicated |
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public servants; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate the Houston Professional Fire |
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Fighters Association, Local 341 of the International Association of |
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Fire Fighters, on the 75th anniversary of its founding and extend to |
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its members best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Local 341 as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |
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Dutton |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1971 was adopted by the House on May |
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10, 2007, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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