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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Texas American Legion Boys State is celebrating the |
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80th anniversary of its founding in 2019, providing a fitting |
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opportunity to pay tribute to this outstanding educational program; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, One of the most respected civics education programs |
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for high school students in the nation, American Legion Boys State |
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brings together participants to learn about government through |
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role-playing exercises, including running for office, organizing a |
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government, and introducing and debating bills in a legislature; |
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the program was created in Illinois in 1934, and the national |
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organization adopted the plan in 1935; today, 48 states conduct a |
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Boys State each year, and the American Legion Auxiliary also |
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sponsors a program for young women called Girls State; and |
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WHEREAS, At its annual convention in Waco in 1939, the Texas |
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Department of the American Legion mandated the establishment of a |
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Boys State program in the Lone Star State, and the first group of |
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participants met on the campus of The University of Texas at Austin |
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in June 1940; in addition to developing a government complete with |
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elected city, county, and state officials, a legislature, and |
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courts, the youths published a daily newspaper and attended |
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lectures by counselors on such subjects as the U.S. Constitution |
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and the branches of government; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, several hundred student leaders take part in |
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Boys State each summer at The University of Texas; selected on a |
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competitive basis by local high schools and American Legion posts |
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from across the state, these notable young Texans are mentored by |
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dedicated volunteers who include members of the American Legion, |
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legislators, and former Boys Staters, many of whom have gone on to |
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excel in such fields as education, law, and government; and |
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WHEREAS, By nurturing the techniques and ideals of our |
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representative republic, Texas American Legion Boys State is |
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helping young people develop the understanding, insight, and skills |
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necessary to become the leaders of tomorrow; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 80th anniversary of American |
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Legion Boys State in Texas and extend to all those associated with |
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the program sincere best wishes for continued success; 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 Texas American Legion Boys State as an expression of |
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high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |
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Price |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 966 was adopted by the House on |
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April |
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12, 2019, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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