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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Honorable Gabrielle Giffords, United States |
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congresswoman from Arizona, has forged an exemplary career in |
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behalf of her constituents and this nation, and her arrival in |
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Houston to begin treatment and rehabilitation at Memorial Hermann |
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hospital provides a fitting opportunity to honor Ms. Giffords for |
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her distinguished public service; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Tucson, where her family has lived for three |
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generations, Gabrielle Giffords graduated from Scripps College in |
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1993 and earned a master's degree in regional planning from Cornell |
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University in 1996; after receiving her M.R.P., she studied for a |
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year in Chihuahua, Mexico, on a William Fulbright Scholarship; she |
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has worked in New York City on regional economic development issues |
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and has also garnered experience in the private sector, having held |
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the posts of president and CEO of her family's tire and automotive |
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business; and |
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WHEREAS, Gabrielle Giffords entered public life in 2001, when |
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she joined the Arizona House of Representatives; two years later, |
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at the age of 32, she became the youngest woman ever to be elected to |
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the Arizona State Senate; she has represented Arizona's Eighth |
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Congressional District since 2007; and |
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WHEREAS, In her approach to problem solving, Ms. Giffords has |
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put a premium on collaboration, seeking to ensure that all |
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viewpoints are heard and that the best ideas are explored; she has |
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worked tirelessly for the people of Arizona and has become a leading |
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advocate for military families and veterans, immigration reform, |
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and solar energy, three areas of major importance to her district |
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and to the nation as a whole; and |
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WHEREAS, During her tenure in Congress, this esteemed |
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lawmaker has held a seat on the House Armed Services, Science and |
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Technology, and Foreign Affairs Committees; she has also served as |
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chair of the Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, as vice chair of |
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the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, and as vice chair |
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of the U.S.-Mexico Interparliamentary Group; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Giffords has consistently sought to make herself |
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accessible to her constituents, holding frequent events where she |
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and her staff would engage with citizens one-on-one about any |
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matter related to the federal government; and |
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WHEREAS, Gabrielle Giffords has been married to Captain Mark |
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Kelly, a navy pilot and NASA astronaut, since 2007; and |
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WHEREAS, In the conscientious devotion she has brought to her |
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duties as an elected representative, the energy and intelligence |
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with which she has addressed the issues before this country, and the |
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determination she has shown to make government responsive to the |
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people, Gabrielle Giffords has embodied the highest expression of |
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democracy in action, and her fight to recover from her injuries has |
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inspired Americans in every part of this land; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the Honorable Gabrielle Giffords |
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for her outstanding public service and extend to her and her family |
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sincere best wishes as she begins treatment and rehabilitation in |
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the Lone Star State; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Ms. Giffords as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |