Bill Text: TX HR19 | 2023 | 88th Legislature 3rd Special Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Congratulating Dr. Andy Schwartz on his retirement as state veterinarian and executive director of the Texas Animal Health Commission.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-10-24 - Reported enrolled [HR19 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HR19-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 19 | ||
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| WHEREAS, Dr. Andy Schwartz is retiring as state veterinarian | ||
| and executive director of the Texas Animal Health Commission in | ||
| January 2024, drawing to a close an exceptional career with the | ||
| agency spanning nearly three and a half decades; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Andy Schwartz grew up on his family's farm in | ||
| Priddy; he graduated from Tarleton State University with an animal | ||
| agriculture degree, and he earned his doctor of veterinary medicine | ||
| degree at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine and | ||
| Biomedical Sciences; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Early in his career, Dr. Schwartz gained valuable | ||
| experience through his work at a mixed animal practice; in May 1990, | ||
| he embarked on his tenure with TAHC as a field veterinarian, and he | ||
| subsequently was promoted to the titles of region director, state | ||
| epidemiologist, and assistant executive director; and | ||
| WHEREAS, In 2016, Dr. Schwartz was named state veterinarian | ||
| and executive director of TAHC; nationally recognized among | ||
| regulatory veterinarians and policy makers, he has helped lead the | ||
| effort to control such animal diseases as bovine and swine | ||
| brucellosis and pseudorabies in commercial swine while playing a | ||
| key role in the development and execution of response plans for a | ||
| number of foreign animal diseases; under his direction, Texas has | ||
| remained involved with the Scrapie Eradication and the Chronic | ||
| Wasting Disease Management Programs, and he has guided multilevel | ||
| responses to disease outbreaks; moreover, he helps direct the Texas | ||
| Trichomoniasis Program, which improves the health and | ||
| marketability of cattle; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Retirement will afford Dr. Schwartz the opportunity | ||
| to spend more time with his family, which includes his wife, Kathy, | ||
| and his children and grandchildren; he also helps his mother care | ||
| for her sheep and cattle on the family farm; and | ||
| WHEREAS, A longtime leader in his field, Dr. Andy Schwartz | ||
| has distinguished himself through his exemplary efforts in behalf | ||
| of TAHC and the animal health and agriculture industries, and he may | ||
| indeed reflect with pride on a job well done; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas | ||
| Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby congratulate Dr. Andy | ||
| Schwartz on his retirement as state veterinarian and executive | ||
| director of the Texas Animal Health Commission and extend to him | ||
| sincere appreciation for his many years of outstanding service; | ||
| and, be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
| prepared for Dr. Schwartz as an expression of high regard by the | ||
| Texas House of Representatives. | ||
| González of El Paso | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 19 was adopted by the House on October | ||
| 23, 2023, by a non-record vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
