H.R. No. 1743 R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, Deborah Bell of Gilmer , the founder of Refuge International, truly merits special recognition for the many contributions she has made to the health and well-being of countless individuals through her humanitarian efforts; and WHEREAS, In 2003, moved by what she saw during a volunteer trip to Guatemala, Ms. Bell started Refuge International, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving lives in areas where such essentials as adequate health care, nutrition, and clean water are lacking or nonexistent; under her able guidance, the group leads numerous mission trips each year and has established permanent medical clinics in San Raymundo, Sarstun, and Chocola, Guatemala; partially funded through the sale of items handmade in remote villages, Refuge International also digs wells, advances educational projects, distributes deworming medication, and works with government agencies to send Guatemalan children to the Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas for life-changing surgeries; and WHEREAS, Ms. Bell's can-do attitude and boundless compassion also benefit residents of the Longview area, where she has served the local community for many years as a nurse practitioner; furthermore, in 2009, she forged a partnership between Refuge International and physicians, nurses, and students from Longview Emergency Medicine Associates and The University of Texas at Tyler to provide free medical care to the homeless population housed at Hiway 80 Rescue Mission; and WHEREAS, In appreciation of her tireless efforts in behalf of others, this highly esteemed individual has received a number of accolades, including a 2005 Stand on a Better World Award, the 2007 Texas Nurse Practitioner of the Year Award, and the 2012 Citizen of the Year Award from the Longview Rotary Club; and WHEREAS, Deborah Bell's public-spiritedness and volunteerism are an inspiration to many people, and her commitment to enhancing the quality of life for people both locally and abroad has earned her the enduring respect and admiration of all who are privileged to know her; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby honor Deborah Bell for her outstanding service to those in need through her work with Refuge International and extend to her sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Deborah Bell as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Simpson Larson Straus González Paddie Straus González Paddie Straus González Paddie Allen Guerra Parker Allen Guerra Parker Allen Guerra Parker Alonzo Guillen Paul Alonzo Guillen Paul Alonzo Guillen Paul Alvarado Gutierrez Peña Alvarado Gutierrez Peña Alvarado Gutierrez Peña Anchia Harless Phelan Anchia Harless Phelan Anchia Harless Phelan Anderson of Dallas Hernandez Phillips Anderson of Dallas Hernandez Phillips Anderson of Dallas Hernandez Phillips Anderson of McLennan Herrero Pickett Anderson of McLennan Herrero Pickett Anderson of McLennan Herrero Pickett Ashby Howard Price Ashby Howard Price Ashby Howard Price Aycock Huberty Raney Aycock Huberty Raney Aycock Huberty Raney Bell Hughes Raymond Bell Hughes Raymond Bell Hughes Raymond Bernal Hunter Reynolds Bernal Hunter Reynolds Bernal Hunter Reynolds Blanco Isaac Riddle Blanco Isaac Riddle Blanco Isaac Riddle Bohac Israel Rinaldi Bohac Israel Rinaldi Bohac Israel Rinaldi Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Rodriguez of Bexar Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Rodriguez of Bexar Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Rodriguez of Bexar Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rodriguez of Travis Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rodriguez of Travis Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rodriguez of Travis Burkett Keffer Romero, Jr. Burkett Keffer Romero, Jr. Burkett Keffer Romero, Jr. Burns Keough Rose Burns Keough Rose Burns Keough Rose Burrows King of Hemphill Sanford Burrows King of Hemphill Sanford Burrows King of Hemphill Sanford Button King of Parker Schaefer Button King of Parker Schaefer Button King of Parker Schaefer Canales King of Taylor Schofield Canales King of Taylor Schofield Canales King of Taylor Schofield Capriglione King of Uvalde Schubert Capriglione King of Uvalde Schubert Capriglione King of Uvalde Schubert Clardy Klick Shaheen Clardy Klick Shaheen Clardy Klick Shaheen Coleman Koop Sheets Coleman Koop Sheets Coleman Koop Sheets Collier Krause Sheffield Collier Krause Sheffield Collier Krause Sheffield Cook Kuempel Simmons Cook Kuempel Simmons Cook Kuempel Simmons Craddick Landgraf Simpson Craddick Landgraf Simpson Craddick Landgraf Simpson Crownover Larson Smith Crownover Larson Smith Crownover Larson Smith Cyrier Laubenberg Smithee Cyrier Laubenberg Smithee Cyrier Laubenberg Smithee Dale Leach Spitzer Dale Leach Spitzer Dale Leach Spitzer Darby Longoria Springer Darby Longoria Springer Darby Longoria Springer Davis of Dallas Lozano Stephenson Davis of Dallas Lozano Stephenson Davis of Dallas Lozano Stephenson Davis of Harris Lucio III Stickland Davis of Harris Lucio III Stickland Davis of Harris Lucio III Stickland Deshotel Márquez Thompson of Brazoria Deshotel Márquez Thompson of Brazoria Deshotel Márquez Thompson of Brazoria Dukes Martinez Thompson of Harris Dukes Martinez Thompson of Harris Dukes Martinez Thompson of Harris Dutton Martinez Fischer Tinderholt Dutton Martinez Fischer Tinderholt Dutton Martinez Fischer Tinderholt Elkins McClendon Turner of Collin Elkins McClendon Turner of Collin Elkins McClendon Turner of Collin Faircloth Metcalf Turner of Harris Faircloth Metcalf Turner of Harris Faircloth Metcalf Turner of Harris Fallon Meyer Turner of Tarrant Fallon Meyer Turner of Tarrant Fallon Meyer Turner of Tarrant Farias Miles VanDeaver Farias Miles VanDeaver Farias Miles VanDeaver Farney Miller of Comal Villalba Farney Miller of Comal Villalba Farney Miller of Comal Villalba Farrar Miller of Fort Bend Vo Farrar Miller of Fort Bend Vo Farrar Miller of Fort Bend Vo Fletcher Moody Walle Fletcher Moody Walle Fletcher Moody Walle Flynn Morrison White of Bell Flynn Morrison White of Bell Flynn Morrison White of Bell Frank Muñoz, Jr. White of Tyler Frank Muñoz, Jr. White of Tyler Frank Muñoz, Jr. White of Tyler Frullo Murphy Workman Frullo Murphy Workman Frullo Murphy Workman Galindo Murr Wray Galindo Murr Wray Galindo Murr Wray Geren Naishtat Wu Geren Naishtat Wu Geren Naishtat Wu Giddings Nevárez Zedler Giddings Nevárez Zedler Giddings Nevárez Zedler Goldman Oliveira Zerwas Goldman Oliveira Zerwas Goldman Oliveira Zerwas Gonzales Otto Gonzales Otto Gonzales Otto ______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1743 was adopted by the House on April 13, 2015, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House Straus González Paddie Allen Guerra Parker Alonzo Guillen Paul Alvarado Gutierrez Peña Anchia Harless Phelan Anderson of Dallas Hernandez Phillips Anderson of McLennan Herrero Pickett Ashby Howard Price Aycock Huberty Raney Bell Hughes Raymond Bernal Hunter Reynolds Blanco Isaac Riddle Bohac Israel Rinaldi Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Rodriguez of Bexar Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rodriguez of Travis Burkett Keffer Romero, Jr. Burns Keough Rose Burrows King of Hemphill Sanford Button King of Parker Schaefer Canales King of Taylor Schofield Capriglione King of Uvalde Schubert Clardy Klick Shaheen Coleman Koop Sheets Collier Krause Sheffield Cook Kuempel Simmons Craddick Landgraf Simpson Crownover Larson Smith Cyrier Laubenberg Smithee Dale Leach Spitzer Darby Longoria Springer Davis of Dallas Lozano Stephenson Davis of Harris Lucio III Stickland Deshotel Márquez Thompson of Brazoria Dukes Martinez Thompson of Harris Dutton Martinez Fischer Tinderholt Elkins McClendon Turner of Collin Faircloth Metcalf Turner of Harris Fallon Meyer Turner of Tarrant Farias Miles VanDeaver Farney Miller of Comal Villalba Farrar Miller of Fort Bend Vo Fletcher Moody Walle Flynn Morrison White of Bell Frank Muñoz, Jr. White of Tyler Frullo Murphy Workman Galindo Murr Wray Geren Naishtat Wu Giddings Nevárez Zedler Goldman Oliveira Zerwas Gonzales Otto