H.R. No. 2158
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The Honorable Phil Gramm rendered exceptional
service to residents of the Lone Star State throughout a tenure that
spanned nearly a quarter-century in the United States Congress; and
WHEREAS, A native of Fort Benning, Georgia, Phil Gramm began
his education at a very young age, learning to listen as his father
read him books on the Civil War, Eisenhower's Crusade in Europe,
H. G. Wells's Outline of History, and more, all before he entered
the first grade; and
WHEREAS, He graduated from the Georgia Military Academy in
1961 and went on to work his way through school, taking night and
correspondence courses, saving up hard-earned money, and relying on
the GI bill while earning a bachelor's degree in economics;
continuing his studies, he attended graduate school and,
remarkably, never took a single note while completing a doctorate
in economics from the University of Georgia; and
WHEREAS, Beginning his career in academia in 1967, he was a
professor of economics at Texas A&M University for more than a
decade, and during that time, he also founded the economic
consulting firm Gramm and Associates; in addition, his work was
frequently included in economic journals, and he published two
books, The Role of Government in a Free Society and The Economics of
Mineral Extraction; and
WHEREAS, Concerned about the negative effects he perceived
government and special interests were having on the economy,
Senator Gramm first entered public service in 1978; he was elected
as a Democrat to the U.S. House of Representatives by the voters of
the state's Sixth Congressional District, which stretched from the
Fort Worth suburbs to College Station, and he was returned to that
office again as a Democrat in 1980; during his time in the house, he
accumulated a very conservative voting record, even by Texas
Democratic standards of the day, tallying an average rating of 89
from the American Conservative Union, and from 1980 to 1982, he
received the highest rating from that organization of any Democrat
in the Texas delegation; and
WHEREAS, In 1981, he cosponsored the Gramm-Latta Budget,
which implemented President Ronald Reagan's economic program,
increased military spending, cut other federal spending, and
mandated the Economic Recovery Tax Act of 1981, and as a result, he
was removed from the House Budget Committee; because he believed
that philosophical change in representation should be approved by
voters, he resigned, returned to his district, and ran as a
Republican for his vacant seat in a special election, the only
congressman ever to take such a step; with his win, he became the
first Republican to represent the district since its creation in
1846; his election successes continued in 1984 when he ran for the
U.S. Senate and won more votes than any other candidate for
statewide office had ever received in Texas history; he then served
in the senate for the next 18 years; and
WHEREAS, During his decades in Congress, Senator Gramm
compiled an impressive legislative record that also included such
landmark bills as the Gramm-Rudman Act, which reined in federal
spending, and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, which allowed banks,
securities firms, and insurance companies to affiliate as part of a
financial services holding company; he further distinguished
himself as chair of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and
Urban Affairs; in 1991, he was honored for his outstanding
achievements with the prestigious Horatio Alger Award; and
WHEREAS, After stepping down from his senate seat in 2002,
Senator Gramm subsequently served for nine years as vice chair of
UBS Investment Bank, where his leadership and financial expertise
were vital in initial public offerings for Visa, the Bank of China,
the China Merchants Bank, and LG Philips; he also played a crucial
role in the follow-on equity offering for the Industrial and
Commercial Bank of China, the privatization of Telstra in
Australia, and the acquisition of 20 percent of Turkey-based Akbank
by Citibank; today, he is vice chair of Lone Star Global
Acquisitions and a senior partner of US Policy Metrics, and he
additionally serves as a visiting scholar at the American
Enterprise Institute; and
WHEREAS, In all of his endeavors, this esteemed statesman is
blessed with the love and support of his wife, Dr. Wendy Lee Gramm,
and their two sons, Marshall and Jeff, and he takes tremendous pride
in his five grandchildren, Caroline, Will, Joshua, Gilbert, and
Benjamin; and
WHEREAS, Over the course of his exceptional career in this
nation's capital, Phil Gramm became an admired mentor to many young
people who were inspired by his dedication, his intellect, and his
belief in the boundless opportunities America has to offer, an
opinion that he so eloquently expressed with the following words:
"America is not a great and powerful country because the most
brilliant and talented people came to live here. America is great
and powerful because it was here that ordinary people like you and
me have had more opportunity and more freedom than any other people
who ever lived on the face of the earth"; and
WHEREAS, This state and nation have benefited immeasurably
from the vision, initiative, and outstanding contributions of Phil
Gramm, and the wide respect and admiration he enjoys from his fellow
citizens testify to the profound impact of his legacy; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
Legislature hereby commend the Honorable Phil Gramm for his
exemplary public service and extend to him warmest best wishes for
continued success and much happiness; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Senator Gramm as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.
Goldman
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. 2158 was adopted by the House on April
21, 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