H.C.R. No. 56 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION WHEREAS, The Purple Heart is a combat decoration awarded to members of the United States armed forces who are wounded by an instrument of war in the hands of the enemy or presented to the next of kin in the name of those who are killed in action or die of wounds received in action; and WHEREAS, Originally established by General George Washington during the Revolutionary War, the Purple Heart was revived by means of a presidential executive order on February 22, 1932, the 200th anniversary of President Washington's birth, out of respect for his military achievements; the criteria were announced by the War Department on that date in General Order No. 3; and WHEREAS, Texas is home to 1.5 million veterans, representing 5 percent of the nation's total veteran population; the state has 30 Purple Heart cities, 4 Purple Heart counties, and 9 Purple Heart universities, which have all committed to recognizing veterans and honoring their commitments to veterans services; in addition, Texas is home to Belton New Tech High at Waskow, the first high school in the nation to earn a Purple Heart School designation, and to Purple Heart Elementary School in El Paso; and WHEREAS, Numerous Texas agencies provide services to benefit former members of the military, including the Texas Veterans Commission, Texas Veterans' Land Board, Office of the Adjutant General, Texas Health and Human Services Commission, State Bar of Texas, Department of State Health Services, Texas Workforce Commission, Texas Workforce Investment Council, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Texas Correctional Office on Offenders with Medical or Mental Impairments, Texas Commission on Jail Standards, Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, and Texas Department of Agriculture; and WHEREAS, The State of Texas is dedicated to improving the lives of its veterans with the highest standard of services, and it acknowledges the enormous sacrifices made by recipients of the Purple Heart; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the 85th Legislature of the State of Texas hereby recognize Texas as a Purple Heart State and encourage agencies and government bodies at all levels to serve veterans with the same degree of devotion demonstrated by members of the armed forces in their service to our state and nation; and, be it further RESOLVED, That the Texas Legislature hereby designate February 22 as Purple Heart Day; and, be it further RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of Section 391.004(d), Government Code, this designation remain in effect until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is finally passed by the legislature. Shine Cosper Shine Cosper Shine Cosper Sheffield Anchia Sheffield Anchia Sheffield Anchia Anderson of McLennan Anderson of Dallas Anderson of McLennan Anderson of Dallas Anderson of McLennan Anderson of Dallas Arévalo Ashby Arévalo Ashby Arévalo Ashby Bailes Bell Bailes Bell Bailes Bell Biedermann Bohac Biedermann Bohac Biedermann Bohac Burkett Burrows Burkett Burrows Burkett Burrows Button Cain Button Cain Button Cain Cortez Darby Cortez Darby Cortez Darby Dean Faircloth Dean Faircloth Dean Faircloth Gooden Hefner Gooden Hefner Gooden Hefner Holland Huberty Holland Huberty Holland Huberty Johnson of Harris King of Parker Johnson of Harris King of Parker Johnson of Harris King of Parker King of Uvalde Koop King of Uvalde Koop King of Uvalde Koop Lambert Martinez Lambert Martinez Lambert Martinez Metcalf Miller Metcalf Miller Metcalf Miller Minjarez Paul Minjarez Paul Minjarez Paul Price Raney Price Raney Price Raney Raymond Rinaldi Raymond Rinaldi Raymond Rinaldi Roberts Rodriguez of Travis Roberts Rodriguez of Travis Roberts Rodriguez of Travis Schubert Simmons Schubert Simmons Schubert Simmons Springer Stucky Springer Stucky Springer Stucky Swanson VanDeaver Swanson VanDeaver Swanson VanDeaver Villalba Walle Villalba Walle Villalba Walle Wilson Zedler Wilson Zedler Wilson Zedler ______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 56 was adopted by the House on April 27, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 144, Nays 0, 2 present, not voting. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 56 was adopted by the Senate on May 19, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. ______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: __________________ Date __________________ Governor Shine Cosper Sheffield Anchia Anderson of McLennan Anderson of Dallas Arévalo Ashby Bailes Bell Biedermann Bohac Burkett Burrows Button Cain Cortez Darby Dean Faircloth Gooden Hefner Holland Huberty Johnson of Harris King of Parker King of Uvalde Koop Lambert Martinez Metcalf Miller Minjarez Paul Price Raney Raymond Rinaldi Roberts Rodriguez of Travis Schubert Simmons Springer Stucky Swanson VanDeaver Villalba Walle Wilson Zedler