| 1 | 1 | | 84R8134 RA-D |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | By: Coleman H.C.R. No. 71 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | CONCURRENT RESOLUTION |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Access to affordable health care is one of the most |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | critical issues facing our state and nation, and health care is the |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | largest and fastest growing industry in Texas, employing about one |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | million workers in more than 200 careers; and |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | WHEREAS, The University of Houston enrolls 11,000 students |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | and confers 1,800 degrees in 97 health-related degree programs |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | annually; the health sciences represent about a quarter of the |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | school's enrollment as well as of its degrees awarded; and |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | WHEREAS, The university's annual research awards in the |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | health sciences total $40.5 million, or about a third of total UH |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | research, and its annual royalty income from commercialized drugs |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | totals $12 million; while treating over 30,000 patients, including |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | many who are indigent and uninsured, UH clinical programs in such |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | fields as optometry, pharmacy, clinical psychology, and social work |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | generate over $3 million in revenue each year; and |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | WHEREAS, The university further distinguishes itself as a |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | member of the Texas Medical Center and has built numerous |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | productive collaborations with other member institutions; and |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | WHEREAS, Through its educational, research, clinical, and |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | community outreach programs, UH contributes to the advancement of |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | health care and the health sciences in the region and state; the |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | board of regents seeks to make an even greater positive impact, and |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | to this end, it has approved the creation of a health science center |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | at the university; and |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | WHEREAS, Organizing the university's health-related programs |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | as part of a health science center will improve its ability to |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | address regional and state health care needs and will spur |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | innovation in the delivery of health care and reduce disparity in |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | access to care; and |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | WHEREAS, Such a center will elevate the university's |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | visibility as a leader in the health sciences and further its Tier |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | One goals, and its creation will promote more efficient use of state |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | resources by maximizing opportunities for collaboration across the |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | entire university; and |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | WHEREAS, A University of Houston health science center will |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | offer significant benefits to the institution, the community, and |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | the state by enhancing the breadth, quality, and potential of |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | health-related programs; now, therefore, be it |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | RESOLVED, That the 84th Legislature of the State of Texas |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | hereby express its support for the creation of a University of |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | Houston health science center by the UH System Board of Regents; |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | and, be it further |
|---|
| 48 | 48 | | RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward an |
|---|
| 49 | 49 | | official copy of this resolution to the University of Houston |
|---|
| 50 | 50 | | System Board of Regents. |
|---|