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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) and the Texas Wing have |
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rendered exceptional service to the citizens of this state; and |
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WHEREAS, CAP was founded on December 1, 1941, as a volunteer |
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organization to assist the United States military; assigned to the |
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War Department in 1943, it was designated by Congress as an official |
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auxiliary to the U.S. Air Force five years later and tasked with |
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providing emergency services, aerospace education, and cadet |
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programs; and |
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WHEREAS, For more than eight decades, CAP has conducted |
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aerial and ground search, rescue, and disaster operations for |
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federal and state governments as well as local communities; the |
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agency has contributed thousands of flight hours in search of |
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missing persons, and it has conducted relief missions for regions |
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impacted by natural disasters and oil spills; in addition, CAP |
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played a vital role in the national response to the COVID-19 |
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pandemic by distributing blood, test kits, vaccines, food, and |
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other supplies; since September 11, 2001, it has completed a number |
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of noncombatant homeland security and defense missions to ensure |
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the safety of U.S. citizens and provide the air force and other key |
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agencies with critical support and training; in 2015, CAP |
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officially joined the Total Force of the U.S. Air Force; and |
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WHEREAS, The Texas Wing of CAP contributes to the safety and |
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welfare of all Texans by assisting state agencies, the Coast Guard, |
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National Guard, Federal Emergency Management Agency, American Red |
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Cross, and local first responders; today, the Texas Wing consists |
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of nearly 1,800 senior members and over 2,200 cadet members; it also |
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operates some 36 aircraft, 45 vehicles, and over 600 radio |
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stations; and |
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WHEREAS, The Texas Wing cadet program provides educational |
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opportunities for youth, including character and leadership |
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development initiatives, camping activities, emergency services |
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training, and service and cyber defense competitions; moreover, |
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CAP's volunteer pilots fly some 1,900 sorties each year, |
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introducing numerous young Texans to aviation; the Texas Wing also |
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supports teachers, students, and schools across the state through |
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aerospace education programs, teacher orientation flights, and |
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STEM kit initiatives; and |
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WHEREAS, The dedicated volunteers of the Civil Air Patrol and |
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the Texas Wing have worked tirelessly to aid and protect Texas |
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residents in times of disaster, and they are to be commended for |
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their many contributions; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize the Civil Air Patrol and the Texas |
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Wing for their service to the citizens of this state and extend to |
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all those affiliated with the organizations sincere best wishes for |
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the future. |