H.R. No. 2979

R E S O L U T I O N

WHEREAS, The Honorable Kay Bailey Hutchison served her fellow Texans with tremendous skill and dedication as a United States senator for nearly two decades; and

WHEREAS, Senator Hutchison won a special election in 1993 to become the first female senator from the Lone Star State, as well as the first Republican to hold that seat since 1875; she was reelected three times, and during her distinguished tenure, she worked tirelessly to protect military bases and was an effective champion of service members, veterans, and their families; through the years, she provided staunch support for federal projects that contributed significantly to the Texas economy, and she secured federal aid and resources in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, including millions of dollars in reimbursement for the state's costs in educating and housing evacuees; and

WHEREAS, This dynamic lawmaker rose to become the highest ranking Republican woman in Congress, and she served as the ranking member on the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation as well as on the Appropriations Subcommittee for Commerce, Justice, and Science; she was also chair of the Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee and a member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee; a prominent member of her party, she held such leadership roles as chair of the Republican Policy Committee, vice chair of the Republican Conference, and deputy permanent chair of the 2005 Republican National Convention; and

WHEREAS, Previously, Senator Hutchison served the public as a member of the Texas House of Representatives and as state treasurer, and she was vice chair of the National Transportation Safety Board; her extensive private-sector experience includes positions as senior vice president and general counsel of Republic Bank Corporation in Texas, as a cofounder of Fidelity National Bank of Dallas, and as the owner of a candy manufacturing company; born in Galveston, she completed her bachelor's degree and law degree at The University of Texas at Austin; when she found the doors of large Houston law firms closed to female attorneys, she sought employment as a television reporter, and the experience she gained in covering politics gave her the knowledge and confidence to run for office; and

WHEREAS, Senator Hutchison retired from government in 2013, and today she is senior counsel at the Dallas firm of Bracewell & Giuliani, representing clients in banking, energy, transportation, telecommunications, and public policy; in addition, she is the author of three books on heroic American women, the most recent of which is Unflinching Courage: Pioneering Women Who Shaped Texas; and

WHEREAS, Named one of the World's 100 Most Powerful Women by Forbes Magazine in 2005, Senator Hutchison has received a host of honors, among them the Outstanding Legislator Award from the Association of the United States Army, the Spirit of Enterprise Award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the National Commander's Distinguished Public Service Award from the American Legion; and

WHEREAS, Kay Bailey Hutchison has contributed immeasurably to her state and her nation through her exceptional accomplishments in public office, and her legacy will be a continuing source of inspiration for aspiring leaders for many years to come; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby commend Kay Bailey Hutchison for her outstanding service as a member of the United States Senate and extend to her sincere best wishes for continued success and happiness; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Senator Hutchison as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.

Branch

______________________________ Speaker of the House

I certify that H.R. No. 2979 was adopted by the House on May 26, 2013, by a non-record vote.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House