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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The nonprofit Wheelchairs for Warriors is holding |
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its Rolling Strong kickoff fund-raising event in Stafford on |
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September 11, 2017; and |
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WHEREAS, This outstanding organization was created to |
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provide customized, enhanced-mobility wheelchairs to veterans and |
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first responders who were severely disabled in the line of duty; and |
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WHEREAS, The base cost for such wheelchairs can run as high as |
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$30,000, while additional features and adjustments for the |
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individual user can bring the final price to as much as $100,000; |
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chairs will be tailored to the needs of each recipient, so that they |
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can be controlled, if necessary, by a puff of breath or by the |
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movement of the user's eyes, mouth, chin, head, or finger; and |
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WHEREAS, The first recipients of these state-of-the-art |
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products are Colin Doyle of the U.S. Marine Corps, who was paralyzed |
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from the chest down in Afghanistan, and retired U.S. Army Colonel |
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Rob Harmon, who was injured in a helicopter accident at Fort |
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Campbell; also receiving a custom-designed chair will be U.S. |
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Secret Service agent Garrett Fitzgerald, who was paralyzed from the |
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neck down in an automobile accident while protecting presidential |
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candidate Hillary Clinton in 2015; and |
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WHEREAS, Wheelchairs for Warriors benefits from the guidance |
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of executive director Crystal Laramore, the CEO of Laramore Media |
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Group, and from the expertise of clinical psychologist Dr. Deanna |
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Foster, who serves as president, U.S. Army veteran Heidi Hansing, |
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who leads the group's partnership development, and complex rehab |
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seating specialist Paul Morgan, who plays a vital role in |
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engineering the chairs; serving on the board are U.S. Navy veteran |
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Joe Amato and former U.S. Secret Service agent James Napolitano, |
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while former NFL quarterback Dan Pastorini holds honorary board |
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membership; and |
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WHEREAS, Americans owe a profound debt of gratitude to those |
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military personnel and first responders who put themselves at risk |
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to ensure our safety and security, and Wheelchairs for Warriors |
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promises to play a vital role in providing these brave men and women |
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with the support they so richly deserve; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby commemorate the Rolling |
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Strong kickoff fund-raiser for Wheelchairs for Warriors and extend |
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to all those associated with the organization sincere best wishes |
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for success in their important work; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Wheelchairs for Warriors as an expression of high |
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regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |
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Cain |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 494 was adopted by the House on August |
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15, 2017, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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