Bill Text: TX HR277 | 2011 | 82nd Legislature 1st Special | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Congratulating Dr. Robert M. Gates on his retirement as the United States secretary of defense.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2011-07-06 - Reported enrolled [HR277 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HR277-Introduced.html
Bill Title: Congratulating Dr. Robert M. Gates on his retirement as the United States secretary of defense.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2011-07-06 - Reported enrolled [HR277 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HR277-Introduced.html
82S11330 JGH-D | ||
By: Gallego | H.R. No. 277 |
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WHEREAS, Dr. Robert M. Gates is retiring as the United States | ||
secretary of defense on June 30, 2011, drawing to a close an | ||
extraordinary 45-year career in which he has served eight U.S. | ||
presidents; and | ||
WHEREAS, A native of Kansas, Robert Gates earned a bachelor's | ||
degree from the College of William and Mary, a master's degree in | ||
history from Indiana University, and a doctorate in Russian and | ||
Soviet history from Georgetown University; and | ||
WHEREAS, Secretary Gates joined the Central Intelligence | ||
Agency in 1966, and during the course of his outstanding 27-year | ||
tenure with the organization, he spent nearly a decade in the White | ||
House as a member of the National Security Council, serving four | ||
presidents; and | ||
WHEREAS, Named deputy director of the CIA in 1986, Secretary | ||
Gates served in that role until early 1989, when he was appointed | ||
assistant to the president and deputy national security adviser in | ||
the administration of President George H. W. Bush; when he returned | ||
to the CIA in 1991 as its director, he became the only career | ||
officer in its history to rise from entry-level employee to agency | ||
head; and | ||
WHEREAS, Beginning a new chapter in his career, Secretary | ||
Gates was appointed interim dean of the George Bush School of | ||
Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University in 1999, and | ||
in 2002, he accepted the position of university president; he | ||
further contributed his expertise as a board member of the American | ||
Council on Education and the National Association of State | ||
Universities and Land-Grant Colleges; and | ||
WHEREAS, Among the other organizations with which Secretary | ||
Gates has been deeply involved are the National Eagle Scout | ||
Association and the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of | ||
America, both of which he served as president; in addition, he has | ||
been chair of the Independent Trustees of the Fidelity Funds and a | ||
board member of NACCO Industries, Brinker International, and Parker | ||
Drilling Company; and | ||
WHEREAS, In 2006, Dr. Gates was selected to be the 22nd U.S. | ||
secretary of defense by President George W. Bush, and he was sworn | ||
in on December 18 of that year; after the 2008 election of President | ||
Barack Obama, Secretary Gates became the only secretary of defense | ||
in history to be asked to remain in that office by an incoming | ||
president; and | ||
WHEREAS, Recognized on many occasions, Dr. Gates is the | ||
recipient of the National Security Medal, the Presidential Citizens | ||
Medal, and two National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medals; | ||
moreover, he has earned the Distinguished Intelligence Medal, the | ||
CIA's highest award, three times; and | ||
WHEREAS, Throughout his years of service to the nation, | ||
Secretary Gates has distinguished himself with his intelligence, | ||
integrity, and patriotism, winning the lasting trust and respect of | ||
men and women in uniform, politicians of both parties, and the | ||
general public, and he may indeed take pride in his tremendous | ||
contributions to the safety and security of his fellow Americans; | ||
now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas | ||
Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby congratulate Dr. Robert M. | ||
Gates on his retirement as U.S. secretary of defense and extend to | ||
him sincere best wishes for continued success in all his endeavors; | ||
and, be it further | ||
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
prepared for Secretary Gates as an expression of high regard by the | ||
Texas House of Representatives. |