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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 145
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to |
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join the members of the Texas Food Bank Network and Texans across |
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the state in celebrating February 2, 2011, as Texas Food Bank Day |
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at the Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, Established in 1986, the Texas Food Bank Network |
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consists of 19 food banks that provide service to all 254 Texas |
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counties through approximately 3,600 community agencies; and |
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WHEREAS, To further the goal of reducing hunger in our |
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state, many public-private partnerships have been created, |
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including the Surplus Agricultural Products Grant Program; this |
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innovative program seeks to facilitate the donation of surplus |
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food to feed low-income families across Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, The Surplus Agricultural Products Grant Program |
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offers incentives to growers to donate fresh produce that would |
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otherwise be left in the field, by offsetting the costs of |
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harvesting, packaging, and transportation; this initiative has |
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resulted in more than 68 million pounds of surplus produce being |
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distributed across the state; and |
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WHEREAS, The Texas Food Bank Network has also created a |
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partnership with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice that |
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encourages the use of prison land to grow fresh produce for |
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distribution by food banks; the creation of the Second Chance |
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Partnership also allows inmates of the criminal justice system to |
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gain valuable work experience and certifications through |
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volunteer efforts at the food banks; and |
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WHEREAS, Network members have also established a |
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partnership with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission |
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to provide client education and application assistance for the |
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Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, greatly increasing |
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the efficiency of the eligibility-determination process; and |
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WHEREAS, It is truly fitting that a day be set aside to |
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acknowledge the many contributions of food banks to the |
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well-being of our state; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 82nd |
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Legislature, hereby commend the Texas Food Bank Network on its |
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exemplary efforts to ensure that all Texans have access to |
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nutritious food and extend to its members best wishes for a |
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memorable Texas Food Bank Day at the Capitol; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in |
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honor of this special day. |
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Seliger |
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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 February 2, 2011. |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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Member, Texas Senate |