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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Honorable F. Scott McCown is stepping down as |
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executive director of the Center for Public Policy Priorities in |
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2013; and |
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WHEREAS, CPPP was founded in 1985 by the congregation of |
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Benedictine Sisters in Boerne to improve access to health care for |
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the poor; Scott McCown has guided the center since his retirement as |
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a state district judge in 2002, and during his tenure, the |
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organization's focus has expanded; today, it is known for its |
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research and analysis of policies concerning not only health care |
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but also nutrition, jobs, education, and protection for children; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Judge McCown was twice named one of the 25 Most |
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Powerful People in Texas Politics by Texas Monthly, which described |
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him as "a voice for the voiceless"; moreover, he has received |
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numerous accolades, including the 2013 Distinguished Lawyer Award |
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from the Austin Bar Association and the 2007 Vision and Valor Award |
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of Distinction for Exemplary Accomplishments in the Promotion of |
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Social Justice from the School of Social Work at The University of |
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Texas at Austin; and |
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WHEREAS, Elected to the 345th District Court in Travis County |
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in 1989, Judge McCown presided over the 1990-1992 Edgewood cases |
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challenging the state's funding of public education; he also |
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presided over a child protection docket by special assignment, |
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hearing more than 2,000 child abuse cases concerning some 4,000 |
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children, and in 1998, he made an impassioned plea for greater |
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funding of Child Protective Services in his Petition in Behalf of |
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the Forsaken Children of Texas, which was influential in |
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legislative decision-making; and |
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WHEREAS, This notable Texan started his career as an attorney |
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with Vinson & Elkins in Houston and was a visiting professor of law |
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at The University of Texas before becoming chief of the Criminal Law |
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Enforcement Division and then a special counsel to the Texas |
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attorney general; born in Dalhart, he graduated cum laude from |
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Texas Christian University and earned his law degree with honors |
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from UT, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif and Order of |
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the Barristers and served on the Board of Editors for the Texas Law |
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Review; and |
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WHEREAS, Judge McCown is leaving the CPPP to serve as a |
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clinical professor and director of the Children's Rights Clinic at |
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The University of Texas School of Law, where he will teach law |
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students who are representing youth in court in Child Protective |
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Services cases; and |
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WHEREAS, Through his untiring advocacy for social justice, |
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Scott McCown has made a positive difference in the lives of |
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countless Texas children and families, and it is indeed fitting to |
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recognize him as he prepares to embark on the next phase of his |
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impressive career; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend F. Scott McCown for his service as |
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executive director of the Center for Public Policy Priorities and |
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congratulate him on his appointment as a clinical professor and |
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director of the Children's Rights Clinic at the UT School of Law; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Judge McCown as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |