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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Albert Hawkins is retiring as executive |
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commissioner of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission on |
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August 31, 2009, and it is most fitting to recognize him for his |
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outstanding leadership as his tenure draws to a close; and |
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WHEREAS, Appointed by Governor Rick Perry in January 2003, |
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Mr. Hawkins directs the operations of five health and human |
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services agencies with more than 50,000 employees and a combined |
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budget of about $55 billion; during his tenure, he oversaw the |
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consolidation of 12 agencies into five and he initiated substantial |
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enhancements in child and adult protective services; widely |
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recognized as a budget expert, he instituted administrative changes |
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in the Texas Medicaid program that have saved millions of dollars, |
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as well as innovations that include personalized treatment plans |
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for clients with chronic health issues and electronic health |
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passports for children from foster homes; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Hawkins met the challenges of natural disasters |
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with compassion and efficiency; by ensuring the availability of |
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federal resources, he avoided overburdening Texas taxpayers while |
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providing timely aid to victims of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and |
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Ike; during his tenure, HHSC won increased federal funding for |
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services, more than doubling Upper Payment Limits for doctors and |
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hospitals and significantly increasing funding for services to the |
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deaf and hearing impaired; moreover, Mr. Hawkins worked with the |
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legislature to expand community placement options to serve an |
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additional 20,000 clients with disabilities and special health care |
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needs; and |
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WHEREAS, A Fort Worth native, Mr. Hawkins worked his way |
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through The University of Texas at Austin as a postal service |
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employee and earned his master's degree in public affairs from the |
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Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs; he joined the Texas |
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Legislative Budget Board in 1978 as a program analyst and |
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eventually became deputy director of the agency; from 1995 to 2000, |
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he served as budget director for Governor George W. Bush, and he |
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went on to serve on the senior staff in the Bush White House as |
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assistant to the president and secretary to the cabinet; and |
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WHEREAS, This dynamic 35-year veteran of government service |
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has received numerous accolades, including the Whitney M. Young |
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Award of the Austin Urban League, the Outstanding Leadership Award |
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of the Austin Chapter of Blacks in Government, and the Bob Bullock |
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Award for Outstanding Public Stewardship; he received an honorary |
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doctorate in public service from the University of North Texas |
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Health Science Center and was named a distinguished alumnus by the |
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LBJ School; in addition, he was named Texas State Administrator of |
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the Year for 1998; he has served his local community as chair of the |
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Austin Area Urban League, as board treasurer of the Capital Area |
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United Way, as a mentor and board member of Project M.A.N., Inc., |
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and as a member of the board of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Austin; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Highly respected for his integrity, dedication, and |
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uncompromising commitment to excellence and fiscal responsibility, |
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Albert Hawkins skillfully guided the Health and Human Services |
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Commission through a time of considerable change, and he may indeed |
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reflect with pride on his many accomplishments; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby congratulate Albert |
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Hawkins on his retirement as executive commissioner of the Texas |
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Health and Human Services Commission and extend to him sincere best |
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wishes for continued success and happiness; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Hawkins as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |