SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 496
WHEREAS, Texas Health and Human Services Inspector General
Sylvia Hernandez Kauffman has demonstrated a long-standing
commitment to her fellow citizens over the course of her notable
career in public service; and
WHEREAS, Sylvia Kauffman first joined the Office of
Inspector General in 2015 after working for the Health and Human
Services Commission, and she previously served OIG as principal
deputy inspector general and deputy inspector general for data
and technology; she was appointed to her current position as
inspector general for Texas Health and Human Services by Governor
Greg Abbott in January 2018; and
WHEREAS, Among her many responsibilities, Inspector
General Kauffman oversees the vision, direction, strategy, and
day-to-day operations of the 500-person office, which is charged
with protecting the integrity of HHS programs and with
preventing, detecting, and deterring fraud, waste, and abuse in
the delivery of health and human services in the state;
throughout her exemplary tenure, she has placed a significant
emphasis on the use of data analytics, and as a result,
recoveries have steadily increased despite a reduction in
overall staff; in the 2022 fiscal year alone, the agency
recovered nearly half a billion dollars and demonstrated a return
of $6.21 for every dollar invested; in total, the OIG has
recovered more than $2 billion for Texas taxpayers under her able
leadership; and
WHEREAS, Born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley,
Inspector General Kauffman was the valedictorian of her high
school and a first-generation college student; she holds a
bachelor's degree in computer science from Stanford University
and a master's degree in public policy from Harvard University;
earlier in her career, she was employed by the Strategic Planning
Unit in the Information Technology Division of the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, where she received the Governor's Special
Achievement Award for her work in transforming the delivery of
government services; and
WHEREAS, Through her skill, professionalism, and
commitment to excellence, Sylvia Kauffman has greatly benefited
the people of the Lone Star State, and she may indeed reflect with
pride on her outstanding record of service; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th
Legislature, hereby honor Sylvia Hernandez Kauffman for her
professional accomplishments and extend to her sincere best
wishes for continued success; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
prepared for Inspector General Kauffman as an expression of high
regard from the Texas Senate.
LaMantia
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on May 1, 2023.
________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate