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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Naming the Texas Department of Transportation |
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(TxDOT) office in Houston after State Senator John Whitmire would |
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be a fitting tribute to a Texas legislator who has provided more |
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than 30 years of extraordinary public service to the Houston |
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community and the State of Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, First elected to the Texas Senate in 1982 after |
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serving 10 years in the Texas House of Representatives and |
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currently the longest-serving member of the Texas Senate, Senator |
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Whitmire uses his seniority as Dean of the Senate to provide |
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leadership in resolving local and state issues; and |
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WHEREAS, Appointed to the Senate Finance Committee, |
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conference committees on the state budget, and the Legislative |
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Budget Board, Senator Whitmire has distinguished himself as a |
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champion of public education, children's health insurance, mental |
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health services, public safety, and transportation; and |
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WHEREAS, His commitment to making Texas both tough and smart |
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on crime led Texas Monthly magazine to name him one of the Top Ten |
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Best Legislators in 2003 and 2005, and he continues to advocate for |
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improving probation and alleviating prison overcrowding in his role |
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as chair of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee; and |
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WHEREAS, Senator Whitmire is truly a native son of Houston, |
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having graduated from Waltrip High School before earning a bachelor |
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of arts degree in political science from the University of Houston |
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and attending that university's Bates College of Law; his |
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accomplishments as the voice of Senate District 15 in the Texas |
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Senate include ensuring research and excellence funding for the |
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University of Houston; and |
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WHEREAS, The TxDOT office in Houston at 7721 Washington has |
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never been named, and it is indeed fitting to honor Senator |
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Whitmire's invaluable contributions to his community and state by |
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naming the office after him; and |
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WHEREAS, Section 2165.005, Government Code, establishes a |
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procedure for the naming of state office buildings, requiring a |
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combination of Texas Building and Procurement Commission |
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submission and legislative authorization and approval; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 80th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby approve and authorize the naming of the Texas Department of |
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Transportation office in Houston after State Senator John Whitmire; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward official copies |
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of this resolution to the chair of the Texas Building and |
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Procurement Commission. |