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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, World Down Syndrome Day is taking place on March 21, |
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2019, and this occasion provides a fitting opportunity to recognize |
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one of the Down syndrome community's most passionate young |
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advocates, 12-year-old Texan Addison Bortnick; and |
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WHEREAS, Born with Down syndrome, Addison began making her |
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mark on the world even before she learned to speak; her contagious |
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smile and winning personality led her to grace the covers of |
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Children's Ministry Magazine and the book Special Needs Ministry |
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for Children and to appear in many more magazines and newspapers; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, As she grew older, Addison began taking an active |
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role in spreading awareness and acceptance for Down syndrome and |
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calling for full inclusion for herself and other students with |
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disabilities; her persistence and optimism have helped her thrive |
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academically, and she has enjoyed sharing her talents through such |
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extracurricular activities as cheerleading and dancing; in all her |
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endeavors, she is guided by her strong faith and her resolute belief |
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in her potential and the potential of other children like herself; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Addison has been engaged in promoting many |
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charitable events, including the City of Abilene's ArtWalk, the Rio |
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Grande Valley Down Syndrome Association's Step Up for Down Syndrome |
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Awareness Walk, and the local Buddy Walk organized by the Upside |
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Down Club, of which she is a member; she has also spoken at |
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legislative listening sessions and school board meetings, and she |
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won first place in a 4-H speaking competition; in 2018, she had the |
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great honor of receiving the Easterseals Rio Grande Valley Advocacy |
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Award alongside her mother, Becca Bortnick; and |
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WHEREAS, Addison Bortnick is a courageous young Texan and a |
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source of immense pride to her loved ones, and she is to be |
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commended for her efforts to inspire others to join her in making |
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the world a better and more welcoming place for all; now, therefore, |
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be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Addison Bortnick on the occasion of World |
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Down Syndrome Day 2019 and extend to her sincere best wishes for |
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continued success as she continues to pursue her dreams; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Addison and her family as an expression of high regard |
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by the Texas House of Representatives. |
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Guerra |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 537 was adopted by the House on March |
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13, 2019, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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