H.R. No. 396
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to honor
    1-2  an esteemed member of this chamber, the Honorable Rene O. Oliveira,
    1-3  on the momentous occasion of his 40th birthday; and
    1-4        WHEREAS, A native Texan, he was born in the historic
    1-5  community of Brownsville on March 14, 1955, and has remained a
    1-6  lifelong resident of the town he is proud to call home; and
    1-7        WHEREAS, Mr. Oliveira earned his bachelor's degree and law
    1-8  degree from The University of Texas at Austin, and currently
    1-9  practices law as a partner in the Brownsville firm of Roerig,
   1-10  Oliveira & Fisher; and
   1-11        WHEREAS, Having first won election to the house as a member
   1-12  of the 67th Legislature, Mr. Oliveira is currently in his sixth
   1-13  term representing the constituents of District 37, and his valuable
   1-14  service has greatly contributed to the work of the house throughout
   1-15  his outstanding tenure in public office; and
   1-16        WHEREAS, In previous sessions, he has distinguished himself
   1-17  through his leadership on committees dealing with such pivotal
   1-18  issues as appropriations, higher education, health and human
   1-19  services, Texas beaches, and child-support enforcement, and served
   1-20  as chairman of budget and oversight for the Ways and Means and
   1-21  Business and Commerce committees; and
   1-22        WHEREAS, Today, he continues to deliberate issues of great
   1-23  import to the state as chairman of the Economic Development
   1-24  Committee, as cochair of both the Special House Select Committee on
    2-1  NAFTA and GATT and the House Committee on Small Business Access to
    2-2  Capital, and as a member of the Ways and Means Committee; in
    2-3  addition, Mr. Oliveira contributes his valuable expertise to the
    2-4  benefit of his fellow members as legal counsel for the Mexican
    2-5  American Legislative Caucus; and
    2-6        WHEREAS, Outside the legislative arena, Mr. Oliveira has long
    2-7  given generously of his time and talents to benefit many worthy
    2-8  professional and civic organizations, including the Cameron County
    2-9  Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the National
   2-10  Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, the Knights
   2-11  of Columbus, and the American Lung Association of Texas, which he
   2-12  presently serves as director; and
   2-13        WHEREAS, The recipient of numerous well-deserved accolades,
   2-14  Mr. Oliveira has been honored for his achievements in the past by
   2-15  such prominent groups as Texas Southmost College, the Texas Women's
   2-16  Political Caucus, the Texas State Council of the National
   2-17  Organization for Women, the Rio Grande Valley School Board
   2-18  Association, and the State Bar of Texas; he also has earned
   2-19  recognition as a charter shareholder of the Texas Council on Family
   2-20  Violence and been listed in Who's Who in American Politics and
   2-21  Outstanding Young Men of America; and
   2-22        WHEREAS, A devoted family man as well, Mr. Oliveira is
   2-23  married to the former Kathy Sunde and the couple are the proud
   2-24  parents of two children, Rene, Jr., and Adrien Marie; and
   2-25        WHEREAS, With each passing day, Mr. Oliveira continues to
   2-26  exhibit the same level of optimism and dedication that he initially
   2-27  brought to this post more than a decade ago and his colleagues
    3-1  would like to honor him at this time for his unwavering commitment
    3-2  to the citizens of Texas; now, therefore, be it
    3-3        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
    3-4  Legislature hereby congratulate the Honorable Rene O. Oliveira on
    3-5  the memorable occasion of his 40th birthday and extend to him
    3-6  warmest best wishes for continued good fortune and happiness in the
    3-7  coming year; and, be it further
    3-8        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
    3-9  prepared for Mr. Oliveira as an expression of highest regard by his
   3-10  colleagues in the Texas House of Representatives.