H.R. No. 492

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, February 23, 2017, marks the 100th anniversary of
	the signing of the Smith-Hughes Act, the first major federal
	legislation to support the teaching of agriculture and other
	vocational subjects in high school; and
	WHEREAS, During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the
	need for vocational and technical education to augment academic
	study was increasingly recognized by teachers, agriculturists,
	home economists, and industry leaders; in 1914, the United States
	Congress established the Commission on National Aid to Vocational
	Education, which concluded that federal funding was necessary to
	ensure the success of such programs; and
	WHEREAS, Based on the recommendations of the commission,
	Senator Hoke Smith of Georgia introduced Senate Bill 703 on
	December 7, 1915, and on February 10, 1916, Representative Dudley
	Hughes laid out a companion bill, House Bill 11250; Senator Smith's
	bill enjoyed support from both chambers of Congress as well as from
	President Woodrow Wilson, who urged Congress to take action on it;
	and
	WHEREAS, A diverse range of interest groups, including
	industrialists, labor unions, and agricultural scientists, were
	united in their endorsement of the legislation; support for the
	measure was further intensified by the perception that Germany,
	then engaged in the Great War, had outstripped America in
	developing an advanced workforce to sustain its agricultural and
	industrial might; and
	WHEREAS, On February 17, 1917, Senate Bill 703--now known as
	the Smith-Hughes Act--was approved by Congress in a bipartisan
	vote, and on February 23, President Wilson signed the bill into law;
	Texas state senator Claude Hudspeth of El Paso subsequently
	introduced a bill to accept the benefits of the federal act, which
	was approved by the 35th Texas Legislature on May 8, 1917; and
	WHEREAS, Today, 15 million young Americans, including some
	1.2 million Texans, are enrolled in occupational courses in 16
	cutting-edge career areas; their experiences in those programs are
	empowering them to succeed in postsecondary education and in the
	free-market economy, both as employees and as entrepreneurs; in
	addition, the advent of vocational education has led to the
	establishment of a range of youth leadership development
	organizations, including FFA, SkillsUSA, HOSA, and the Future
	Business Leaders of America, which are preparing their members to
	become engaged citizens and effective leaders in the work of
	self-government, the foundation of this constitutional republic;
	and
	WHEREAS, In the century since the passage of the landmark
	Smith-Hughes Act, vocational education has opened the doors of
	opportunity for countless youth and contributed significantly to
	the strength and prosperity of this nation; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas
	Legislature hereby commemorate the 100th anniversary of the signing
	of the Smith-Hughes Act and encourage Texans to learn more about the
	fine work being done by outstanding career and technical teachers
	in communities across the state.
	VanDeaver
	Straus Goldman Oliverson
	Allen Gonzales of Williamson Ortega
	Alonzo González of El Paso Paddie
	Alvarado Gooden Parker
	Anchia Guerra Paul
	Anderson of Dallas Guillen Perez
	Anderson of McLennan Gutierrez Phelan
	Arévalo Hefner Phillips
	Ashby Hernandez Pickett
	Bailes Herrero Price
	Bell Hinojosa Raney
	Bernal Holland Raymond
	Biedermann Howard Reynolds
	Blanco Huberty Rinaldi
	Bohac Hunter Roberts
	Bonnen of Brazoria Isaac Rodriguez of Bexar
	Bonnen of Galveston Israel Rodriguez of Travis
	Burkett Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr.
	Burns Johnson of Harris Rose
	Burrows Kacal Sanford
	Button Keough Schaefer
	Cain King of Hemphill Schofield
	Canales King of Parker Schubert
	Capriglione King of Uvalde Shaheen
	Clardy Klick Sheffield
	Coleman Koop Shine
	Collier Krause Simmons
	Cook Kuempel Smithee
	Cortez Lambert Springer
	Cosper Landgraf Stephenson
	Craddick Lang Stickland
	Cyrier Larson Stucky
	Dale Laubenberg Swanson
	Darby Leach Thierry
	Davis of Dallas Longoria Thompson of Brazoria
	Davis of Harris Lozano Thompson of Harris
	Dean Lucio III Tinderholt
	Deshotel Martinez Turner
	Dukes Metcalf Uresti
	Dutton Meyer VanDeaver
	Elkins Miller Villalba
	Faircloth Minjarez Vo
	Fallon Moody Walle
	Farrar Morrison White
	Flynn Muñoz, Jr. Wilson
	Frank Murphy Workman
	Frullo Murr Wray
	Geren Neave Wu
	Gervin-Hawkins Nevárez Zedler
	Giddings Oliveira Zerwas
	______________________________
	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.R. No. 492 was adopted by the House on February
	23, 2017, by a non-record vote.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House