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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, For more than a decade, Hal Talton has distinguished |
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himself through his exemplary service as chief of staff and general |
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counsel to State Representative Four Price; and |
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WHEREAS, Since joining Representative Price's office in |
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January 2011, Mr. Talton has devoted himself tirelessly to meeting |
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the needs of constituents in House District 87, and he has worked to |
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promote rural areas in order to ensure they are recognized for their |
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value in providing Texans and the world with food, fuel, and fiber; |
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he has championed greater access to broadband and health care for |
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rural areas, including hospitals, telemedicine, and telehealth, |
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and he has been instrumental in making sure that rural communities |
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have equal access to match grant funding for mental health |
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programs; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Talton's dedication to advancing health care |
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extends throughout Texas, and his interest in this issue has led him |
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to tour numerous hospitals, health science universities, and |
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state-supported living centers; he has also sought to ensure that |
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mental health is taken as seriously as other health conditions, |
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working to secure insurance parity for persons with mental illness |
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and striving to improve student mental health and the nexus between |
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mental health and criminal justice; and |
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WHEREAS, This skilled public servant has been instrumental to |
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the passage of much legislation and has played a vital role in |
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Representative Price's accomplishments, including assistance for |
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injured Texans, the brain health of student-athletes, and the |
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reorganization for greater efficiency of the state's health care |
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agencies during the Sunset Commission process as well as bills |
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addressing water issues, the potential expansion of Interstate 27, |
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broadband, and health care; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the course of his tenure, Mr. Talton has made |
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frequent visits to the Panhandle area; he has met with local elected |
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officials and school superintendents, and he has toured oil |
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refineries, schools, universities, cattle feed yards, irrigation |
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sites, wind farms, health care sites, and the facilities of Bell; in |
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Austin, he has been an inspiring mentor to many newcomers to the |
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legislative process and a welcoming host to visitors to |
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Representative Price's office at the Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Talton earned his bachelor's and master's |
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degrees in business administration from East Texas State |
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University, and he received his law degree from the University of |
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Arkansas at Fayetteville; he also holds a graduate certificate in |
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health care administration from Texas State University; and |
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WHEREAS, Hal Talton's passion for the lawmaking process, |
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dedication to good public policy, and commitment to excellence have |
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greatly benefited citizens in House District 87 and throughout |
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Texas and earned him the respect and admiration of his peers at the |
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State Capitol and beyond, and he may indeed reflect with pride on |
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his many contributions to the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Hal Talton on his outstanding |
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service as chief of staff and general counsel to State |
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Representative Four Price and extend to him sincere best wishes for |
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continued success in his important work; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Talton as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |