SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 458
WHEREAS, The Mickey Leland Environmental Internship
Program (MLEIP) is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2021, and
this represents a fine opportunity to pay tribute to the success
of this unique initiative; and
WHEREAS, Administered by the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality (TCEQ), MLEIP is named in memory of U.S.
Representative George "Mickey" Leland, in recognition of his
dedication to sound environmental stewardship; Congressman
Leland died in an airplane crash in 1989 while he was on a mission
to Ethiopia as chair of the U.S. House of Representatives Select
Committee on Hunger; and
WHEREAS, MLEIP was established by John Hall, the founding
chair of TCEQ's predecessor agency, the Texas Natural Resource
Conservation Commission, to provide college students with hands-on
experience in science and conservation; more than 500 students,
mostly STEM majors, apply to the program each year for the
opportunity to gain work experience, expand their knowledge, and
fulfill college requirements; participants are assigned to jobs at
the TCEQ and other state agencies, as well as city and county
governments, nonprofits, and private companies in Texas; and
WHEREAS, Over the past three decades, MLEIP has launched
the careers of nearly 2,500 interns, including women and people
of color as well as economically disadvantaged and
first-generation students; former program members now work in
leadership positions in science and technology across the
nation, and many have sponsored their own Leland interns; and
WHEREAS, Through the years, MLEIP has helped create the
next generation of leaders by providing exceptional students
with the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the natural
world while developing professional skills and networks; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 87th
Legislature, hereby commemorate the 30th anniversary of the
Mickey Leland Environmental Internship Program and extend to all
those associated with the initiative sincere best wishes for
continued success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
prepared for MLEIP as an expression of high regard from the
Texas Senate.
Miles
________________________________
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on May 26, 2021.
________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
________________________________
Member, Texas Senate