H.R. No. 112
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Jennifer Sims retired from the Texas Department of
State Health Services on July 31, 2021, drawing to a close an
exemplary career with the State of Texas that has spanned 25 years;
and
WHEREAS, In 1996, Ms. Sims began working for the state as a
legislative aide in the Texas Senate, and she went on to hold a
number of senior management positions at state agencies; she served
as the head of external relations at the Department of Family and
Protective Services, and she subsequently transferred to the
Department of Aging and Disability Services, where she was employed
as associate commissioner; she then returned to DFPS as deputy
commissioner, and in March 2016, she assumed her most recent role as
deputy commissioner at DSHS; and
WHEREAS, In the course of her tenure, Ms. Sims has overseen
the agency's financial services, program operations, external
relations, strategic planning, public health data, and policy
oversight; moreover, she has participated in the reorganization and
transformation of the Health and Human Services System and the
reform of Child Protective and Adult Protective Services; she has
also been actively engaged in the state's response to numerous
hurricanes, including Katrina, Rita, Ike, and Harvey, as well as to
outbreaks of Zika, H1N1, and COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, During the COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Sims has worked
tirelessly to safeguard the health and well-being of Texans while
ensuring that they continue to receive essential public services;
among her many contributions, she helped obtain scarce equipment
and supplies for frontline medical professionals in early 2020; and
WHEREAS, Ms. Sims holds a bachelor's degree in psychology
from Metropolitan State University of Denver and a master's degree
in social work from The University of Texas at Arlington; in
addition, she earned professional certifications in change
management, mediation, and dispute resolution; and
WHEREAS, Through her dedication, professionalism, and
commitment to excellence, Jennifer Sims has earned the lasting
respect and admiration of her colleagues and fellow citizens alike,
and she may indeed reflect with pride on a career well spent as she
embarks on the next exciting chapter of her life; now, therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas
Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby congratulate Jennifer Sims
on her retirement as deputy commissioner at the Texas Department of
State Health Services and extend to her sincere best wishes for the
future; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Ms. Sims as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Price
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 112 was adopted by the House on
September 2, 2021, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House