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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Access to affordable health care is one of the most |
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critical issues facing our state and nation, and health care is the |
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largest and fastest growing industry in Texas, employing about one |
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million workers in more than 200 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; the health sciences represent about a quarter of the |
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school's enrollment as well as of its degrees awarded; and |
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WHEREAS, The university's annual research awards in the |
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health sciences total $40.5 million, or about a third of total UH |
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research, and its annual royalty income from commercialized drugs |
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totals $12 million; while treating over 30,000 patients, including |
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many who are indigent and uninsured, UH clinical programs in such |
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fields as optometry, pharmacy, clinical psychology, and social work |
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generate over $3 million in revenue each year; and |
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WHEREAS, The university further distinguishes itself as a |
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member of the Texas Medical Center and has built numerous |
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productive collaborations with other member institutions; and |
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WHEREAS, Through its educational, research, clinical, and |
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community outreach programs, UH contributes to the advancement of |
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health care and the health sciences in the region and state; the |
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board of regents seeks to make an even greater positive impact, and |
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to this end, it has approved the creation of a health science center |
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at the university; and |
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WHEREAS, Organizing the university's health-related programs |
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as part of a health science center will improve its ability to |
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address regional and state health care needs and will spur |
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innovation in the delivery of health care and reduce disparity in |
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access to care; and |
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WHEREAS, Such a center will elevate the university's |
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visibility as a leader in the health sciences and further its Tier |
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One goals, and its creation will promote more efficient use of state |
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resources by maximizing opportunities for collaboration across the |
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entire university; and |
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WHEREAS, A University of Houston health science center will |
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offer significant benefits to the institution, the community, and |
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the state by enhancing the breadth, quality, and potential of |
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health-related programs; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby express its support for the creation of a University of |
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Houston health science center by the UH System Board of Regents; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward an |
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official copy of this resolution to the University of Houston |
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System Board of Regents. |