SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 573

WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes pride in its public educators, who provide an invaluable service to the people of the State of Texas; and

WHEREAS, The Texas Retired Teachers Association represents retired public education employees; and

WHEREAS, The members of the Texas Retired Teachers Association continually work to improve their local communities throughout the state; they have given more than 5,831,707 hours of volunteer service, equivalent to a value of more than $121 million; and

WHEREAS, Retired educators volunteer in schools and promote lifelong learning by providing books to children through the Children's Book Project, which has supplied more than 500,000 books to children so far, including 120,343 last year alone; and

WHEREAS, The members of the Texas Retired Teachers Association are conscious of the effect their health has on the world around them and work to preserve the TRS-Care program by reducing doctor visits through the Walks-A-Million Program, collectively taking 23,163,527,055 steps toward greater wellness; and

WHEREAS, Retiree annuity payments from the Teacher Retirement System of Texas have exceeded $6 billion, directly creating 91,500 jobs in the State of Texas through such payments; and

WHEREAS, The Texas Retired Teachers Association and its nearly 70,000 members work diligently to protect current and future public education retirees; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 82nd Legislature, hereby acknowledge the observance of Texas Retired Teachers Week, March 21 through March 25, 2011; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the association as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate.

Duncan

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on March 23, 2011.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate