Bill Text: TX HR712 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Honoring Special Olympics Texas.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-03-13 - Reported enrolled [HR712 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HR712-Introduced.html
Bill Title: Honoring Special Olympics Texas.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2019-03-13 - Reported enrolled [HR712 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HR712-Introduced.html
86R15498 BK-D | ||
By: Flynn | H.R. No. 712 |
|
||
WHEREAS, Over the course of half a century, Special Olympics | ||
Texas has enriched countless lives by introducing individuals with | ||
intellectual disabilities to the transformative experience of | ||
competing in sports; and | ||
WHEREAS, The Special Olympics organization was founded in | ||
1963 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who opened a summer day camp to | ||
provide opportunities for children and adults with intellectual | ||
disabilities to explore a variety of sports and physical | ||
activities; in June 1969, the Texas branch of Special Olympics was | ||
established by the association today known as the Arc of Texas, and | ||
its first summer games took place at Paul Tyson Stadium in Waco, | ||
with 10 track and field events and 350 athletes; and | ||
WHEREAS, As participation grew, Special Olympics Texas | ||
expanded its competition opportunities; its first-ever winter | ||
games were held in Houston in January 1991, and in 2005, Texas was | ||
among the states selected to run a pilot program for Young Athletes, | ||
a sports play program for children between the ages of two and | ||
seven; in June 2019, the organization is observing the 50th | ||
anniversary of its founding; and | ||
WHEREAS, Today, Special Olympics Texas hosts more than 300 | ||
events in 22 sports each year, and it has been proud to send | ||
delegates to represent Texas and the United States at international | ||
games in Greece, Ireland, Japan, China, and other countries; it | ||
currently serves more than 58,000 athletes and relies on the vital | ||
contributions of over 40,000 volunteers; and | ||
WHEREAS, Studies have attested to the myriad benefits of | ||
taking part in the Special Olympics, which include improvements in | ||
social competence and adaptive skills, work performance, | ||
self-esteem, independence, and physical fitness; and | ||
WHEREAS, Special Olympics Texas has helped make our state a | ||
place where people of all ages and abilities can enjoy a better | ||
quality of life through sports training, competition, and volunteer | ||
participation, and its outstanding record of service truly merits | ||
wide acclaim; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas | ||
Legislature hereby honor Special Olympics Texas and express thanks | ||
to the athletes, coaches, and volunteers who have made the | ||
organization the success story that it is today; and, be it further | ||
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
prepared for Special Olympics Texas as an expression of high regard | ||
by the Texas House of Representatives. |