82R5992 BPG-D
By: Workman H.C.R. No. 54
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Tenth Amendment to the United States
Constitution places clear limits on the reach of the federal
government; however, through the years, the U.S. Congress has
seized upon the Interstate Commerce Clause in Article 1, Section 8
of the Constitution as justification for methodically expanding its
own powers; and
WHEREAS, The Interstate Commerce Clause provides that
Congress shall have only the authority "[t]o regulate Commerce with
foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian
Tribes" and should not be used to provide Congress with powers
beyond those originally intended by the framers of the
Constitution, such as the establishment of regulations, agencies,
and government programs that usurp the duties and responsibilities
reserved for the states by the Tenth Amendment; now, therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby respectfully urge the Congress of the United States to
reaffirm its commitment to the Tenth Amendment of the United States
Constitution by returning to the states the many duties and
responsibilities reserved to them; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the 82nd Texas Legislature urge the Congress
of the United States to abolish, in an orderly and expeditious
fashion, within a time span not to exceed 10 years, the Department
of Education, the Federal Highway Administration, the Department of
Commerce, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the
Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of
Labor; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the 82nd Texas Legislature urge the Congress
of the United States to reduce the federal income tax by an amount
equal to the cost savings associated with the abolition of these
agencies, to commit to never usurping the rights of the states in
any future legislation, and to refrain from exempting itself from
any legislation it so passes; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official
copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to
the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of
Representatives of the United States Congress, and to all the
members of the Texas delegation to Congress with the request that
this resolution be entered in the Congressional Record as a
memorial to the Congress of the United States of America.