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SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Access to affordable health care is one of the most |
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critical issues facing the State of Texas and the United States; and |
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WHEREAS, Health care is the largest and fastest-growing |
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industry in Texas, employing 1.3 million workers in more than 200 |
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careers; and |
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WHEREAS, The University of Houston enrolls 11,000 students |
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and confers 1,800 degrees in 97 health-related degree programs |
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annually; and |
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WHEREAS, The health sciences represent 27 percent of the |
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University of Houston's enrollment, 24 percent of the degrees |
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awarded, and 23 percent of the health-related degrees awarded in |
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the region; and |
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WHEREAS, The University of Houston's annual research awards |
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in the health sciences total $40.5 million, 38 percent of the |
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university's total research funding, and annual royalty income from |
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commercialized drugs totals $12 million; and |
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WHEREAS, The University of Houston's clinical programs in |
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optometry, pharmacy, clinical psychology, social work, and other |
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fields treat over 30,000 patients annually, many of them indigent |
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and uninsured, and these programs generate over $3 million in |
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revenue; and |
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WHEREAS, The University of Houston is a member of the Texas |
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Medical Center and has built numerous productive collaborations |
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with other member institutions; and |
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WHEREAS, By virtue of its educational, research, clinical, |
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and community outreach programs, the University of Houston is one |
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of the most important contributors to health care and the health |
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sciences in the region and state; and |
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WHEREAS, Organizing the University of Houston's |
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health-related programs as part of a health science center will |
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enhance the university's ability to address regional and state |
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health care needs, spur innovation in the delivery of health care, |
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reduce disparity in access to health care, elevate the university's |
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visibility as a leader in the health sciences, and further the |
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university's goal of attaining tier one status; and |
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WHEREAS, Organizing the University of Houston's |
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health-related programs as part of a health science center will |
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result in a more efficient use of state resources by maximizing |
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opportunities for collaboration across the entire university for |
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the benefit of the people of Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, Recognizing the breadth, impact, and potential of |
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the University of Houston's health-related programs, the |
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University of Houston System Board of Regents has approved the |
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creation of a health science center at the University of Houston; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 83rd Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby support the University of Houston System Board of Regents' |
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creation of a health science center at the University of Houston. |