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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, For nearly seven decades, the Honorable Sam Johnson |
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has served his state and nation with courage and distinction, first |
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as a highly decorated officer in the United States Air Force, then |
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as a member of the Texas House of Representatives, and since 1991, |
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as a United States congressman; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in San Antonio in 1930 and raised in Dallas, Sam |
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Johnson attended Southern Methodist University; shortly after |
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graduating at the age of 20, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, |
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beginning a distinguished 29-year career; he flew 62 combat |
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missions as a fighter pilot during the Korean War, and he went on to |
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fly with the elite USAF Thunderbirds squadron and to serve as |
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director of the USAF Weapons School before returning to duty as a |
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combat pilot during two tours in Vietnam; and |
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WHEREAS, On April 16, 1966, Major Johnson was shot down over |
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North Vietnam while flying his 25th mission, and he sustained a |
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dislocated shoulder, a broken arm, and a broken back while ejecting |
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from his plane; captured by the North Vietnamese, he survived |
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nearly seven years of torture and deprivation in the infamous Hanoi |
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Hilton prison camp before being released on February 12, 1973, and |
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he later published an inspiring account of his imprisonment, |
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Captive Warriors: A Vietnam POW's Story; and |
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WHEREAS, Despite his ordeal, this heroic Texan continued to |
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serve in the U.S. Air Force until his retirement at the rank of |
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colonel in 1979; his decorations include two Silver Stars, two |
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Legions of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, a Bronze Star |
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with "V" device, two Purple Hearts, four Air Medals, and three Air |
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Force Outstanding Unit Awards; and |
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WHEREAS, After leaving the armed services, Mr. Johnson |
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started a home-building business in North Dallas, and he began his |
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career as an elected official by serving for seven years in the |
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Texas House of Representatives; in 1991, he was elected to the U.S. |
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House of Representatives, and he has served the constituents of the |
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Third District of Texas with great distinction ever since; and |
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WHEREAS, In his role as chair of the Ways and Means Social |
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Security Subcommittee, Congressman Johnson has worked tirelessly |
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to ensure the solvency of the Social Security system and to |
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safeguard its account holders from identity theft; he has also |
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worked to address the long-term water needs of his district by |
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helping to expedite the federal permitting process for the Lower |
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Bois d'Arc Creek Reservoir; and |
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WHEREAS, This proud veteran has been a passionate advocate |
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for current and former military personnel; he passed a bill to |
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authorize a wall of remembrance at the Korean War Veterans Memorial |
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and helped to establish a community-based Veterans Administration |
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outpatient clinic in Plano, and he tirelessly works in behalf of the |
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families of those Vietnam War service members who remain missing in |
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action or unaccounted for; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2016, Congressman Johnson received the inaugural |
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Congressional Patriot Award from the Bipartisan Policy Center for |
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placing the interests of the nation above all else, and that same |
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year, he was also presented with the Distinguished Public Service |
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Award from the U.S. Air Force; he is a recipient of the National |
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Patriot Award from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, and in |
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2009, his peers named him the most admired Republican in the U.S. |
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House of Representatives; and |
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WHEREAS, Congressman Johnson shared a rewarding marriage of |
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65 years with the former Shirley Melton until her passing in 2015; |
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they became the parents of three children, and the family has grown |
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to include 10 grandchildren; and |
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WHEREAS, A courageous warrior and a gifted public servant, |
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Congressman Sam Johnson has devoted his life to serving his fellow |
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citizens, and his commitment, integrity, and patriotism have |
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inspired countless people in Texas and throughout the United States |
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of America; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend U.S. Representative Sam Johnson for his |
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exemplary leadership as a military officer and a legislator and |
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extend to him sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Congressman Johnson as an expression of high regard by |
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the Texas House of Representatives. |
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Leach |
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Laubenberg |
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Sanford |
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Shaheen |
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Holland |
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| Allen |
Gonzales of Williamson |
Ortega |
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| Alonzo |
González of El Paso |
Paddie |
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| Anderson of Dallas |
Guillen |
Perez |
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| Anderson of McLennan |
Gutierrez |
Phelan |
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| Biedermann |
Howard |
Reynolds |
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| Bonnen of Brazoria |
Isaac |
Rodriguez of Bexar |
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| Bonnen of Galveston |
Israel |
Rodriguez of Travis |
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| Burkett |
Johnson of Dallas |
Romero, Jr. |
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| Burns |
Johnson of Harris |
Rose |
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| Cain |
King of Hemphill |
Schofield |
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| Canales |
King of Parker |
Schubert |
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| Capriglione |
King of Uvalde |
Shaheen |
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| Cosper |
Landgraf |
Stephenson |
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| Davis of Dallas |
Longoria |
Thompson of Brazoria |
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| Davis of Harris |
Lozano |
Thompson of Harris |
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| Dean |
Lucio III |
Tinderholt |
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| Gervin-Hawkins |
Nevárez |
Zedler |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1316 was adopted by the House on April |
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11, 2017, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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