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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The Texas Silver-Haired Legislature, a volunteer, |
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nonpartisan organization that advocates for older Texans, |
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celebrated the 25th anniversary of its founding in 2010; and |
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WHEREAS, Created in 1985 by the 69th Texas Legislature, the |
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TSHL is composed of 116 Texans, age 60 and over, who are elected by |
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older, registered voters to represent the 28 Texas Area Agencies on |
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Aging; collectively, those who serve in the TSHL volunteer more |
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than 15,000 hours annually in service to their fellow seniors; and |
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WHEREAS, During their two-year terms, TSHL members identify |
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public policy issues affecting older citizens, research those |
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issues, and craft pertinent legislative proposals in the TSHL |
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legislative session, which is held every other year at the State |
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Capitol; members subsequently present their legislative report to |
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the governor, state representatives and senators, state officials, |
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and the Texas Aging Network; they also testify at senate and house |
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committee hearings on matters of concern to older residents; and |
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WHEREAS, Among the many significant laws passed relating to |
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TSHL resolutions have been Acts establishing the Legislative |
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Committee on Aging, creating the Silver Alert for missing seniors, |
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allowing grandparent caregivers to enroll their grandchildren in |
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school and to access state programs for their grandchildren, |
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requiring criminal history checks of employees and applicants at |
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special care facilities, and setting up a volunteer advocate |
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program for elderly persons; and |
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WHEREAS, For two and a half decades, the work of the Texas |
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Silver-Haired Legislature has promoted the engagement of older |
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Texans in the legislative process and contributed to improved |
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quality of life for older residents of the Lone Star State; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby commemorate the 25th anniversary of the founding of the |
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Texas Silver-Haired Legislature and extend to all those who have |
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ever been associated with the program sincere appreciation for |
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their invaluable service; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Texas Silver-Haired Legislature as an expression |
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of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives and Senate. |