H.R. No. 217 R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, Distinguished representatives from the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors and the Texas Association of Life and Health Insurers are gathering at the State Capitol on January 27, 2015; and WHEREAS, Texans today enjoy a vibrant, diversified economy in which growth and opportunity are present in many areas of endeavor; the life and health insurance industry plays a significant role in the continued prosperity of the state, contributing not only to the financial security and well-being of the citizens of Texas but also providing state revenue, employment opportunities, and support for community development efforts; and WHEREAS, The insurance industry employed more than 247,000 Texans in 2013, providing an aggregate payroll of $15.8 billion; according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, Texas is home to close to 30,000 insurance agents, and three Texas cities--Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio--rank among the top 10 cities in the country with the greatest number of insurance employees; some 17.4 million Texans are covered by private health plans, and the individual, group, and credit life insurance policies held by state residents are valued at $2.2 trillion; and WHEREAS, Texas insurers invest billions of dollars in the economy by purchasing state and local government bonds, corporate stocks and bonds, mortgage loans, and real estate; at the close of 2013, insurers held Texas municipal bonds valued at $53.4 billion, financing public works projects across the state; moreover, it is estimated that insurance premium taxes and fees will generate $3.5 billion in revenue during the 2014-2015 biennium, representing an increase of 6.3 percent from 2012-2013; and WHEREAS, The 2,600 Texas-based members of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors offer consumers assistance with life insurance and annuities, health insurance and employee benefits, and personal finances; since 1890, NAIFA has upheld its mission of advocating for a positive legislative and regulatory environment while promoting ethical conduct and professional skills development among its membership; and WHEREAS, The firms that belong to the Texas Association of Life and Health Insurers provide life insurance, annuities, long-term care, disability income, and health insurance products to Texas consumers; together, the companies that belong to TALHI are responsible for more than 50 percent of the premiums of all business written in Texas; and WHEREAS, Through their dedicated efforts, the members of these two organizations are demonstrating their continued commitment to the economic vitality of the Lone Star State, and their legislative day is a welcome opportunity to acknowledge the important services they provide; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas Legislature hereby recognize January 27, 2015, as Life and Health Insurance Day at the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the delegations from TALHI and NAIFA who are visiting Austin; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the associations as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Crownover Straus Guerra Otto Straus Guerra Otto Straus Guerra Otto Allen Guillen Paddie Allen Guillen Paddie Allen Guillen Paddie Alonzo Gutierrez Parker Alonzo Gutierrez Parker Alonzo Gutierrez Parker Alvarado Harless Paul Alvarado Harless Paul Alvarado Harless Paul Anchia Hernandez Peña Anchia Hernandez Peña Anchia Hernandez Peña Anderson of Dallas Herrero Phelan Anderson of Dallas Herrero Phelan Anderson of Dallas Herrero Phelan Anderson of McLennan Howard Phillips Anderson of McLennan Howard Phillips Anderson of McLennan Howard Phillips Ashby Huberty Pickett Ashby Huberty Pickett Ashby Huberty Pickett Aycock Hughes Price Aycock Hughes Price Aycock Hughes Price Bell Hunter Raney Bell Hunter Raney Bell Hunter Raney Blanco Isaac Raymond Blanco Isaac Raymond Blanco Isaac Raymond Bohac Israel Reynolds Bohac Israel Reynolds Bohac Israel Reynolds Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Riddle Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Riddle Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Riddle Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rinaldi Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rinaldi Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rinaldi Burkett Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Burkett Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Burkett Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Burns Keough Rodriguez of Travis Burns Keough Rodriguez of Travis Burns Keough Rodriguez of Travis Burrows King of Hemphill Romero, Jr. Burrows King of Hemphill Romero, Jr. Burrows King of Hemphill Romero, Jr. Button King of Parker Rose Button King of Parker Rose Button King of Parker Rose Canales King of Taylor Sanford Canales King of Taylor Sanford Canales King of Taylor Sanford Capriglione King of Uvalde Schaefer Capriglione King of Uvalde Schaefer Capriglione King of Uvalde Schaefer Clardy Klick Schofield Clardy Klick Schofield Clardy Klick Schofield Coleman Koop Shaheen Coleman Koop Shaheen Coleman Koop Shaheen Collier Krause Sheets Collier Krause Sheets Collier Krause Sheets Cook Kuempel Sheffield Cook Kuempel Sheffield Cook Kuempel Sheffield Craddick Landgraf Simmons Craddick Landgraf Simmons Craddick Landgraf Simmons Crownover Larson Simpson Crownover Larson Simpson Crownover Larson Simpson Dale Laubenberg Smith Dale Laubenberg Smith Dale Laubenberg Smith Darby Leach Smithee Darby Leach Smithee Darby Leach Smithee Davis of Dallas Longoria Spitzer Davis of Dallas Longoria Spitzer Davis of Dallas Longoria Spitzer Davis of Harris Lozano Springer Davis of Harris Lozano Springer Davis of Harris Lozano Springer Deshotel Lucio III Stephenson Deshotel Lucio III Stephenson Deshotel Lucio III Stephenson Dukes Márquez Stickland Dukes Márquez Stickland Dukes Márquez Stickland Dutton Martinez Thompson of Brazoria Dutton Martinez Thompson of Brazoria Dutton Martinez Thompson of Brazoria Elkins Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris Elkins Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris Elkins Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris Faircloth McClendon Tinderholt Faircloth McClendon Tinderholt Faircloth McClendon Tinderholt Fallon Menéndez Turner of Collin Fallon Menéndez Turner of Collin Fallon Menéndez Turner of Collin Farias Metcalf Turner of Harris Farias Metcalf Turner of Harris Farias Metcalf Turner of Harris Farney Meyer Turner of Tarrant Farney Meyer Turner of Tarrant Farney Meyer Turner of Tarrant Farrar Miles VanDeaver Farrar Miles VanDeaver Farrar Miles VanDeaver Fletcher Miller of Comal Villalba Fletcher Miller of Comal Villalba Fletcher Miller of Comal Villalba Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Frank Moody Walle Frank Moody Walle Frank Moody Walle Frullo Morrison White of Bell Frullo Morrison White of Bell Frullo Morrison White of Bell Galindo Muñoz, Jr. White of Tyler Galindo Muñoz, Jr. White of Tyler Galindo Muñoz, Jr. White of Tyler Geren Murphy Workman Geren Murphy Workman Geren Murphy Workman Giddings Murr Wray Giddings Murr Wray Giddings Murr Wray Goldman Naishtat Wu Goldman Naishtat Wu Goldman Naishtat Wu Gonzales Nevárez Zedler Gonzales Nevárez Zedler Gonzales Nevárez Zedler González Oliveira Zerwas González Oliveira Zerwas González Oliveira Zerwas ______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 217 was adopted by the House on January 27, 2015, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House Straus Guerra Otto Allen Guillen Paddie Alonzo Gutierrez Parker Alvarado Harless Paul Anchia Hernandez Peña Anderson of Dallas Herrero Phelan Anderson of McLennan Howard Phillips Ashby Huberty Pickett Aycock Hughes Price Bell Hunter Raney Blanco Isaac Raymond Bohac Israel Reynolds Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Riddle Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rinaldi Burkett Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar Burns Keough Rodriguez of Travis Burrows King of Hemphill Romero, Jr. Button King of Parker Rose Canales King of Taylor Sanford Capriglione King of Uvalde Schaefer Clardy Klick Schofield Coleman Koop Shaheen Collier Krause Sheets Cook Kuempel Sheffield Craddick Landgraf Simmons Crownover Larson Simpson Dale Laubenberg Smith Darby Leach Smithee Davis of Dallas Longoria Spitzer Davis of Harris Lozano Springer Deshotel Lucio III Stephenson Dukes Márquez Stickland Dutton Martinez Thompson of Brazoria Elkins Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris Faircloth McClendon Tinderholt Fallon Menéndez Turner of Collin Farias Metcalf Turner of Harris Farney Meyer Turner of Tarrant Farrar Miles VanDeaver Fletcher Miller of Comal Villalba Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo Frank Moody Walle Frullo Morrison White of Bell Galindo Muñoz, Jr. White of Tyler Geren Murphy Workman Giddings Murr Wray Goldman Naishtat Wu Gonzales Nevárez Zedler González Oliveira Zerwas