|
|
|
|
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
|
|
WHEREAS, The Legislature of the State of Texas takes pleasure |
|
in recognizing Saint Mary's University on the inaugural year of its |
|
newly created legislative internship program and in commending the |
|
exemplary students who are this year's participants; and |
|
WHEREAS, The Frank Madla, Jr., and Irma Rangel Legislative |
|
Internship Program provides an opportunity for graduate and |
|
undergraduate students who are interested in the legislative |
|
process or who wish to pursue a career in state policy to experience |
|
work in a legislative environment through hands-on participation; |
|
and |
|
WHEREAS, The internship program is named for two of the |
|
university's alumni who worked their way to greatness from modest |
|
beginnings; both the late Honorable Frank Madla, Jr., and the late |
|
Honorable Irma Rangel had a significant impact on San Antonio and |
|
South Texas through their outstanding service in the Texas |
|
Legislature; and |
|
WHEREAS, Senator Madla served for 20 years as a member of the |
|
Texas House of Representatives, where he was an outspoken advocate |
|
for health care and education, and during his 13-year tenure in the |
|
Senate, he was honored repeatedly for his service to the state; his |
|
accolades include Texas Medicine's Best Legislator Award; and |
|
WHEREAS, Representative Rangel was the first Mexican |
|
American woman elected to the Texas Legislature, where she went on |
|
to serve for 26 years; she is noted for her exceptional work as a |
|
proponent of higher education and of equal rights for minorities |
|
and the poor; she was the recipient of multiple honors for her |
|
pioneering service, including induction into the Texas Women's Hall |
|
of Fame in 1994; and |
|
WHEREAS, The internship program is designed to inspire |
|
students to follow in the footsteps of such legends; it gives |
|
participants insight into the legislative process and challenges |
|
them to make a difference in their communities; the admission |
|
standards are high, and the students selected must commit to |
|
working in Austin for at least 40 hours per week while completing |
|
six credit hours of course work; and |
|
WHEREAS, Participants are placed in legislative offices as |
|
staff members with responsibilities and duties ranging from |
|
assistant committee clerk to legislative policy analyst; they must |
|
develop a keen understanding not only of legislative policy, but of |
|
the inherent intricacies of the Texas Legislature as an entity; and |
|
WHEREAS, The undergraduate students chosen as this year's |
|
interns are Andrea Chavez, in the office of Representative David |
|
Leibowitz; Carolina Hernandez and Sarah Linares, in the office of |
|
Representative Joaquin Castro; Mark Reyna, in the office of Senator |
|
Carlos Uresti; and Matthew Reyna, in the office of Senator John |
|
Carona; the graduate students are Ayed Ahbabi, in the office of |
|
Representative Roland Gutierrez; Saad Aldosari, in the office of |
|
Representative Tara Rios Ybarra; and Sherita Simmons, in the office |
|
of Senator Leticia Van de Putte; and |
|
WHEREAS, These interns have received weekly on-site |
|
classroom instruction and have become familiar with the inner |
|
workings of the Texas House of Representatives and Senate while |
|
learning how to research and draft legislation, analyze policy, and |
|
interact with constituents and the press; and |
|
WHEREAS, The program benefits from the assistance and |
|
direction of Professor Arturo Vega, who serves as its on-campus |
|
coordinator, and David C. Courreges, who serves as the on-site |
|
adjunct professor; and |
|
WHEREAS, Saint Mary's University is well known for its |
|
long-standing tradition of instilling in its students the spirit of |
|
public service, and its legislative internship program will be a |
|
valuable asset in preparing its graduates to take on leadership |
|
roles in their communities and in the governmental arena; now, |
|
therefore, be it |
|
RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas |
|
hereby commend Saint Mary's University on implementing the Frank |
|
Madla, Jr., and Irma Rangel Legislative Internship Program and |
|
extend congratulations to this year's interns, who have |
|
distinguished themselves in their challenging roles; and, be it |
|
further |
|
RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared in honor |
|
of this exemplary program. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
______________________________ |
|
President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
|
|
I hereby certify that S.C.R. No. 76 was adopted by the Senate |
|
on May 22, 2009. |
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Secretary of the Senate |
|
|
I hereby certify that S.C.R. No. 76 was adopted by the House |
|
on May 22, 2009. |
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
|
|
|
|
|
Approved: |
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Governor |