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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Current and former members of the National Football |
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League, including NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, were |
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instrumental in the passage of House Bill 2038, requiring Texas |
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schools to establish a protocol for dealing with student-athletes |
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suspected to have sustained a concussion; and |
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WHEREAS, The legislation, which was authored by State |
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Representative Four Price, has been named "Natasha's Law" in honor |
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of Natasha Helmick, whose soccer career ended after she suffered |
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five concussions in four years; involved in the sport since age |
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four, she earned a scholarship to play for Texas State University, |
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but a medical evaluation changed the course of her path; and |
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WHEREAS, From the outset, Mr. Goodell wrote to 44 governors |
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encouraging action be taken to protect young athletes from |
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concussions, and after Representative Price introduced H.B. 2038 |
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in the Texas House, Joe Browne, chief government affairs specialist |
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for the NFL, and Robert Jones, a former NFL player, both spoke at a |
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Capitol press conference in support of the bill; Mr. Browne later |
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testified before the House Committee on Public Health, along with |
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N. D. Kalu, another former NFL player, while Mr. Jones testified |
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before the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services; and |
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WHEREAS, All deeply concerned about the health and well-being |
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of student-athletes, these esteemed professionals called vital |
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attention to the seriousness of concussion injuries and the need |
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for early medical intervention, and Representative Price expresses |
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his gratitude for their assistance in achieving this notable |
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legislative victory; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Roger Goodell, Joe Browne, Robert Jones, |
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and N. D. Kalu for their efforts to heighten awareness of the |
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dangers associated with concussion sustained by student-athletes |
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and extend to them sincere best wishes for the future; 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 Mr. Goodell, Mr. Browne, Mr. Jones, and Mr. Kalu as |
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an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |
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Price |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 2784 was adopted by the House on May |
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30, 2011, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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