H.R. No. 857 R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, March 23, 2011, is Parent Association for the Retarded of Texas Day at the State Capitol, and the occasion provides a fitting opportunity to honor the association for its outstanding work on behalf of persons with mental retardation; and WHEREAS, The Parent Association for the Retarded of Texas is an organization of volunteers who are dedicated to preserving, improving, and expanding services for persons with mental retardation in our state; the association promotes quality services for state school residents, the mentally retarded in the state center system, and mentally retarded residents in the community; and WHEREAS, The dedicated members of the Parent Association for the Retarded of Texas present the parents' viewpoint to the Department of Aging and Disability Services, the state legislature, Congress, and the general public; and WHEREAS, This association is well known for the support it offers to state school employees and its advocacy of new programs to meet the unique needs of the retarded; and WHEREAS, Members of the Parent Association for the Retarded of Texas have been prominently involved in the development of programs for persons with mental retardation since the 1950s, and they have fought vigorously for improved state schools, state centers, special education, and community mental health and mental retardation centers; and WHEREAS, Today, the Parent Association for the Retarded of Texas continues to protect the mentally retarded people of Texas and tenaciously places responsibility on caregivers to maintain standards for quality care; the organization addresses such issues as fiscal accountability and special population needs; and WHEREAS, The services provided by the Parent Association for the Retarded of Texas have been vital to the welfare of both children and adults with mental retardation in our state, and members of the association are truly worthy of legislative recognition for their exceptional efforts and outstanding accomplishments; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas Legislature hereby recognize March 23, 2011, as Parent Association for the Retarded of Texas Day at the State Capitol and extend to the members of the association best wishes for a meaningful and memorable event; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the Parent Association for the Retarded of Texas, Incorporated, as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. King of Taylor ______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 857 was adopted by the House on March 23, 2011, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House