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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Since 2004, the Prison Entrepreneurship Program has |
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equipped Texas inmates with valuable skills and resources that help |
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them achieve a successful reentry into society; and |
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WHEREAS, PEP is a nonprofit organization that aims to |
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transform the lives of its participants through completion of a |
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character development program and an entrepreneurship boot camp; to |
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join PEP, inmates must make it through a highly selective |
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application process, and those who are accepted are transferred to |
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the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Estes Unit, near Dallas, |
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or Bell Unit, near Houston; in the course of the program, |
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participants take part in a business plan competition and complete |
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numerous classes; upon graduation, they are honored in a formal |
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ceremony and awarded a Certificate in Entrepreneurship from the |
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Baylor University Hankamer School of Business; and |
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WHEREAS, After being released from prison, PEP graduates have |
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experienced high rates of employment and low rates of recidivism, |
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and they continue to benefit from PEP resources such as eSchool |
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classes, the Communitas Business Centers, and family reunification |
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initiatives; to date, those who have completed the program have |
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established more than 500 businesses, including five that generate |
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over $1 million in gross annual revenue; and |
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WHEREAS, Among its many accolades, PEP has earned the Texas |
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Governor's Award for Criminal Justice Volunteer Service, and it was |
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named a Rising Star in the Fast Company/Monitor Group Social |
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Capitalist Awards; furthermore, it ranked as a finalist for the |
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Peter F. Drucker Award for Nonprofit Innovation and an Ashoka |
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Changemakers award; and |
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WHEREAS, The Prison Entrepreneurship Program is excelling in |
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its mission of helping former inmates to become productive |
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citizens, and numerous individuals and communities have benefited |
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from its successful efforts; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend the Prison Entrepreneurship Program and |
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extend to all those associated with the organization sincere best |
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wishes for continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Prison Entrepreneurship Program as an expression |
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of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |
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Hull |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 161 was adopted by the House on March |
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10, 2021, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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