H.R. No. 29 R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, National Speech and Debate Education Day is being celebrated on March 3, 2017; and WHEREAS, Established by the National Speech & Debate Association, in conjunction with national and local partners, this event serves to promote better instruction in speech and debate across all grade levels and to highlight the pivotal roles those abilities play in personal advocacy, social movements, and public policy-making; and WHEREAS, Speech and debate education helps students develop important skills in communication, critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration through the practice of public speaking; participants learn not only to analyze and express complex ideas effectively but also to listen, concur, question, or dissent with reason and compassion; and WHEREAS, Across the country, countless educators devote in-school, after-school, and weekend time to supporting their students in speech and debate practices and competitions, and the example of hard work and dedication they set has a lasting, positive impact on their pupils; and WHEREAS, The skills learned through speech and debate serve students well throughout their lives, and this occasion presents a welcome opportunity to recognize such instruction as an essential component of a well-rounded curriculum; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature hereby recognize March 3, 2017, as National Speech and Debate Education Day in Texas. Roberts ______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 29 was adopted by the House on February 23, 2017, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House