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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Ambassador John Bruton, Head of the Delegation of |
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the Commission of the European Community in the United States of |
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America, is visiting Texas, and this occasion provides a welcome |
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opportunity to honor the many achievements of this admired |
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political leader and statesman; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Ireland who was educated at University |
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College Dublin, Ambassador Bruton was first elected to the Irish |
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Parliament in 1969 at age 22; over the ensuing decades, he held a |
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number of important government positions, including minister for |
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finance, minister for industry and energy, and minister for trade, |
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commerce, and tourism; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1990, he became the leader of the Fine Gael Party, |
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and when he led the party into government in 1994, he took office as |
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Ireland's prime minister; during the three years that he guided the |
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government, he helped bring about the phenomenal economic growth |
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that earned the country the nickname of "Celtic Tiger"; in |
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addition, he was instrumental in a number of other important |
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developments, including negotiations that led to the Good Friday |
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Agreement of 1998 that has eased tensions in Northern Ireland; and |
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WHEREAS, Ambassador Bruton's involvement with the European |
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Union began during his tenure as prime minister, and he later served |
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as a leading member of the convention that drafted the proposed |
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European Constitution; in 1999, he became one of the 10 vice |
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presidents of the European People's Party and continued in that |
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role until 2004, when he was appointed the head of the EU Commission |
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to the United States; and |
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WHEREAS, Since beginning his work in Washington, D.C., |
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Ambassador Bruton has consulted with the United States president, |
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members of congress, and other senior political and business |
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figures, and his skilled diplomacy has helped foster cooperation |
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between the EU and the United States on a range of urgent issues; |
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these endeavors, as well as his many other impressive |
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accomplishments, have distinguished John Bruton as a leader of rare |
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ability, and it is an honor to welcome him to the State of Texas; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to Ambassador John Bruton, Head of |
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the Delegation of the Commission of the European Community in the |
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United States of America and extend to him sincere best wishes for a |
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productive and enjoyable visit to the Lone Star State; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Ambassador Bruton as an expression of high regard by |
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the Texas House of Representatives. |