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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 426
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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 |
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trade, commerce, and tourism; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1990, he became the leader of the Fine Gael |
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Party, and when he led the party into government in 1994, he took |
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office as Ireland's prime minister; during the three years that |
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he guided the government, he helped bring about the phenomenal |
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economic growth that earned the country the nickname of "Celtic |
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Tiger"; in addition, he was instrumental in a number of other |
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important developments, including negotiations that led to the |
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Good Friday Agreement of 1998 that has eased tensions in Northern |
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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 |
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served as a leading member of the convention that drafted the |
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proposed European Constitution; in 1999, he became one of the 10 |
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vice presidents of the European People's Party and continued in |
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that role until 2004, when he was appointed the head of the |
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European Union Commission 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 |
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president, members of congress, and other senior political and |
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business figures, and his skilled diplomacy has helped foster |
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cooperation between the European Union and the United States on a |
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range of urgent issues; these endeavors, as well as his many |
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other impressive accomplishments, have distinguished John Bruton |
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as a leader of rare ability, and it is an honor to welcome him to |
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the State of Texas; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 81st |
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Legislature, hereby pay tribute to Ambassador John Bruton, Head |
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of the Delegation of the Commission of the European Community in |
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the United States of America, and extend to him sincere best |
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wishes for a productive and enjoyable visit to the Lone Star |
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State; and, be it 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 |
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from the Texas Senate. |
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Zaffirini |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on March 16, 2009. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |