| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The Objective Watchers of the Legal System |
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| 6 | 7 | | organization has worked for decades to promote good government; and |
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| 7 | 8 | | WHEREAS, O.W.L.S. was founded in the 1970s by a small group |
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| 8 | 9 | | of citizens who were concerned for the well-being of women and |
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| 9 | 10 | | children whose abuse cases were being handled by the judicial |
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| 10 | 11 | | system in Hidalgo County; the group's members sought to learn more |
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| 11 | 12 | | about other branches of local government as well, and they began |
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| 12 | 13 | | calling public attention to concerns about unfairness, |
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| 13 | 14 | | questionable actions, and abuses of power by elected and appointed |
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| 14 | 15 | | government officials; and |
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| 15 | 16 | | WHEREAS, Members of O.W.L.S. have served as a voice for their |
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| 16 | 17 | | fellow South Texas residents, addressing school boards, city |
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| 17 | 18 | | commissions and councils, county commissioners courts, regional |
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| 18 | 19 | | mobility authorities, and other governmental bodies; moreover, |
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| 19 | 20 | | they have also raised issues with the Texas Legislature and with the |
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| 20 | 21 | | United States Congress; and |
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| 21 | 22 | | WHEREAS, Champions of the ideals enshrined in the |
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| 22 | 23 | | U.S. Constitution, the members of the group strive to protect that |
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| 23 | 24 | | document's guarantees of personal rights and freedoms and its clear |
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| 24 | 25 | | limitations on government power; in addition, they promote |
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| 25 | 26 | | transparency and serve as staunch advocates for the Texas Public |
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| 26 | 27 | | Information Act and the Texas Open Meetings Act; and |
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| 27 | 28 | | WHEREAS, Citizen engagement is vital in a democratic society, |
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| 28 | 29 | | and the members of O.W.L.S. have set a sterling example for others |
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| 29 | 30 | | through their steadfast commitment to responsible and responsive |
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| 30 | 31 | | government; now, therefore, be it |
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| 31 | 32 | | RESOLVED, That the 86th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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| 32 | 33 | | hereby honor the Objective Watchers of the Legal System |
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| 33 | 34 | | organization for its dedicated work in South Texas and extend to the |
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| 34 | 35 | | group's members sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be |
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| 35 | 36 | | it further |
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| 36 | 37 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 37 | 38 | | prepared for the organization as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 38 | 39 | | Texas House of Representatives and Senate. |
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| 39 | | - | Canales |
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| 40 | | - | ______________________________ ______________________________ |
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| 41 | | - | President of the Senate Speaker of the House |
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| 42 | | - | I certify that H.C.R. No. 67 was adopted by the House on March |
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| 43 | | - | 21, 2019, by a non-record vote. |
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| 44 | | - | ______________________________ |
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| 45 | | - | Chief Clerk of the House |
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| 46 | | - | I certify that H.C.R. No. 67 was adopted by the Senate on |
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| 47 | | - | March 25, 2019, by a viva-voce vote. |
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| 48 | | - | ______________________________ |
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| 49 | | - | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 50 | | - | APPROVED: __________________ |
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| 51 | | - | Date |
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| 52 | | - | __________________ |
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| 53 | | - | Governor |
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