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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The Honorable Lloyd Millard Bentsen Jr., former |
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United States senator and secretary of the Department of the |
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Treasury, dedicated his life to public service; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Mission, Secretary Bentsen graduated from |
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The University of Texas School of Law and then served his country as |
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a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1945; a recipient of |
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the Distinguished Flying Cross, he flew 35 missions over Germany, |
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Romania, and Italy and was shot down twice; he led 600 Allied troops |
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and guided the operations of 15 bombers, and he attained the rank of |
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colonel; and |
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WHEREAS, Secretary Bentsen returned to his hometown after the |
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war, serving the Rio Grande Valley as Hidalgo County judge until |
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1948, when he was elected to the first of three terms in the |
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U.S. House of Representatives; he then enjoyed success in the |
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private sector before winning election to the U.S. Senate in 1970; |
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following 22 years in that office, he retired from Congress to |
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accept President Bill Clinton's nomination as the secretary of the |
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treasury; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the course of his long and exceptionally |
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distinguished career in Congress, Secretary Bentsen played a key |
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role in the passage of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, |
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the creation of Individual Retirement Accounts, and the enactment |
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of legislation protecting low-income women and children by |
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providing easier access to health care; his legacy of achievement |
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earned him numerous accolades, including the Presidential Medal of |
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Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor; he was recognized by |
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The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston for his |
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work to support advancements in medical care for stroke victims; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Secretary Bentsen passed away in 2006 at the age of |
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85 after having made vital contributions to this state and nation, |
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and his tireless endeavors in behalf of his fellow Americans |
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deserve lasting respect and appreciation; naming the Texas |
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Workforce Commission Building in the Capitol Complex in his honor |
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would provide a most fitting tribute to his outstanding |
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accomplishments; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 86th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby direct the Texas Facilities Commission to rename the Texas |
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Workforce Commission Building the Lloyd M. Bentsen State Office |
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Building; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official |
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copy of this resolution to the chair and executive director of the |
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Texas Facilities Commission. |