Bill Text: TX HR60 | 2021 | 87th Legislature 1st Special Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (VIDA).
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-07-26 - Filed [HR60 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HR60-Introduced.html
| 87S11212 JGH-D | ||
| By: Martinez | H.R. No. 60 | |
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| WHEREAS, The Valley Initiative for Development and | ||
| Advancement (VIDA) is celebrating its 25th anniversary year in | ||
| 2021, and this milestone in its history truly merits special | ||
| recognition; and | ||
| WHEREAS, This community-based nonprofit organization was | ||
| established in 1995 by faith and business leaders in the Lower Rio | ||
| Grande Valley to empower the region's underserved residents by | ||
| providing them with the education and training they need to qualify | ||
| for good, high-paying jobs; the initiative also addresses the need | ||
| of area employers for a skilled workforce; and | ||
| WHEREAS, VIDA's career counselors and case managers address | ||
| financial matters, family issues, and the time management concerns | ||
| of each student, and they conduct group sessions on such topics as | ||
| resume preparation, interviewing techniques, and study skills; | ||
| guest speakers also instruct program participants on a variety of | ||
| topics, including home buying, investing, and planning for | ||
| retirement; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Working with educational institutions such as South | ||
| Texas College and The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, VIDA | ||
| places its students in one-year certificate programs and two-year | ||
| associate degree programs in such subjects as allied health, | ||
| manufacturing, technology, business, and education and social | ||
| services; in addition, students may train for careers as police | ||
| officers, paralegals, web developers, dental hygienists, and | ||
| vocational nurses, among many other fields; and | ||
| WHEREAS, A recent Pathways for Advancing Careers and | ||
| Education (PACE) evaluation shows that 98 percent of VIDA | ||
| participants took part in some education and training, while 55 | ||
| percent obtained a credential or a degree; compared to a control | ||
| group without access to the program, VIDA participants enrolled in | ||
| college at a greater rate, earned more college credits, and earned | ||
| more degrees and certifications; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Since its inception, VIDA has demonstrated | ||
| remarkable success at training skilled workers for high-demand | ||
| jobs, and in so doing, it has helped to develop the next generation | ||
| of engaged and productive citizens; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas | ||
| Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby commemorate the 25th | ||
| anniversary year of the Valley Initiative for Development and | ||
| Advancement and extend to all those associated with the program | ||
| sincere best wishes for continued success in their important work; | ||
| and, be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
| prepared for VIDA as an expression of high regard by the Texas House | ||
| of Representatives. | ||
