H.R. No. 1838
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Sean Carter of Winnsboro has faced extraordinary
challenges since being injured in an automobile accident in 2005,
and through his work as founder of WhenSeanSpeaks, Inc., he has
transformed his personal tragedy into a campaign to save lives; and
WHEREAS, At the time the incident occurred, Sean Carter was a
22-year-old college student with plans to pursue a bachelor's
degree in business administration and go to law school; on the
evening of March 26, 2005, he was headed home with friends after
visiting a few bars when the driver lost control of the vehicle and
crashed; and
WHEREAS, In addition to the multiple fractures and internal
injuries he suffered, Mr. Carter was diagnosed with a severe
diffuse axonal injury, a type of brain trauma; after emerging from a
coma that lasted 39 days, he found he was unable to speak or walk,
and his mother, Jenny Carter, had to assume guardianship of him; and
WHEREAS, Refusing to abandon hope under these dire
circumstances, Mr. Carter began using a tablet computer with "type
to speech" software in an effort to reclaim his autonomy; he went on
to embrace a new sense of purpose as well when he began sharing his
story with others in 2007, as a participant in a Mothers Against
Drunk Driving Victim Impact Panel in Dallas; three years later, he
founded the nonprofit organization WhenSeanSpeaks; and
WHEREAS, Since that time, Mr. Carter and his mother have
taken their message to tens of thousands of young people across the
nation; with funding from the Texas Department of Transportation,
they partnered with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service to
deliver presentations at 15 venues in 2013 and at 50 venues in 2014;
and
WHEREAS, WhenSeanSpeaks is dedicated to educating youth on
the devastating toll of drinking and driving, emphasizing that it
is equally important, as a passenger, to be mindful of the condition
of the driver of the vehicle; the organization is also dedicated to
improving the lives of people affected by traumatic brain injuries
through public awareness and research and to increasing the
availability of exercise facilities that are equipped to serve
persons with mobility needs; and
WHEREAS, Throughout his ordeal, Mr. Carter has benefited
greatly from the support of his mother, his brothers, Todd and Ben,
and his father, Danny Carter, who passed away in 2012; Sean reached
a major milestone in 2013, when his recovery was deemed sufficient
to have his guardianship dismissed, and he continues to make
important strides toward complete independence; and
WHEREAS, Although Sean Carter's fight is not yet over, he has
made an inspiring contribution to the world through his example of
resilience and perseverance, his determination to assist others who
are enduring similar struggles, and his commitment to focus
attention on the dangers of drunk driving; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby commend Sean Carter for all that he has achieved
in his work with WhenSeanSpeaks, Inc., and extend to him sincere
best wishes for the future; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Carter as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Bonnen of Galveston
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. 1838 was adopted by the House on April
16, 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