SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 721
WHEREAS, For more than a century, the Legislative Reference
Library has provided invaluable assistance to Texas lawmakers; and
WHEREAS, Housing a specialized collection of materials
including original legislative bill files dating back to the 63rd
Session, historical and current publications of legislative
committees, of state agencies, and of institutions of higher
education, legal resources, and periodicals, the library is well
positioned to support the varied and extensive work of
legislators; and
WHEREAS, The library's electronic data systems expedite
the delivery of knowledge to the legislative community; the Texas
Appointment System contains information on members of state
councils, boards, and committees appointed by the governor,
lieutenant governor, and speaker; the Legislative Archive System
holds the only electronic version of original legislative bill
files and documentation, while the Index to Sections Affected
details the proposed statutory effect of bills; moreover, the
library maintains Texas Legislators: Past & Present, a database
highlighting legislative membership information from 1846 to
today, as well as a legislative reports database covering that
same period, and it archives gubernatorial executive orders,
messages, and proclamations; and
WHEREAS, During legislative sessions, the library plays an
integral part in the legislative process; staff members develop
electronic records in the Texas Legislative Tracking System for
each bill or resolution filed, assign and enter subject terms and
companion relationships, and review enrolled legislation for
effective dates of each measure; moreover, library staff members
stationed on the floor of the house and senate chambers enter
legislative actions as they occur and furnish real-time
information to the legislative community, executive agencies,
and citizens of this state through such proprietary applications
as TLIS (the Texas Legislative Information System) and TLO (Texas
Legislature Online); and
WHEREAS, Among the services the library offers are a bill
status hotline for constituents, professional and confidential
research, a daily legislative clipping service, weekly listings
of important journal articles, and monthly listings of
newsworthy additions to the library's collection; and
WHEREAS, Guided skillfully by director and librarian Mary
L. Camp, the Legislative Reference Library staff includes
assistant director and librarian Catherine Wusterhausen and
librarians Elizabeth Buchanan, Colton Chambers, Ali Dzienkowski,
Melanie Harshman, Elizabeth Hinderer, Karen McBurney, Marissa
Talamantes, and Ia Wood; the library's archivists are Tricia
Bailey, Linna Dean, and Kaelyn Morice; library assistants and
administrative staff are Elizabeth Bellisario, Donald Brower,
Michelle Martinez, Kelvin Mote, Kali Palmer, Julia Walden, Jay
Young, and Fernanda Zamora, and the library's clipping service
staff members are Vincent Cowan, Christopher Taylor, David Wood,
and Karen Wright; and
WHEREAS, These hardworking professionals demonstrate a
commitment to excellence as they perform their duties with skill
and dedication, and they may take justifiable pride in the
important services they provide to the legislature and to the
citizens of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th
Legislature, hereby honor the Legislative Reference Library and
extend to the staff members sincere appreciation for their
outstanding contributions; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
prepared for the library as an expression of high regard from the
Texas Senate.
Schwertner
________________________________
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on May 28, 2023.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate