S.R. No. 195
1-1 SENATE RESOLUTION
1-2 WHEREAS, The members of the Senate of the State of Texas are
1-3 proud to recognize the Honorable Chet Brooks for his distinguished
1-4 tenure as Chair of the Texas Senate Committee on Health and Human
1-5 Services; and
1-6 WHEREAS, Appointed Chair of the powerful Senate Health and
1-7 Human Services Committee in 1973, Senator Brooks welcomed this
1-8 opportunity and immediately began a dynamic advocacy for the
1-9 elderly, the disadvantaged, the poor, our children and our youth,
1-10 and persons with disabilities that would continue throughout his
1-11 legislative career; and
1-12 WHEREAS, Always an advocate for those who could not speak
1-13 for themselves, Senator Brooks worked tirelessly for an increase
1-14 in aid for our poorest children and families; he also passed
1-15 legislation to provide temporary assistance with housing,
1-16 utilities, and medical care in cases of emergency for the poor
1-17 and homeless; and
1-18 WHEREAS, His other achievements include establishing vision,
1-19 speech, and hearing screening to identify at an early stage sensory
1-20 and communication problems in young children and establishing the
1-21 Health and Human Services Coordinating Council; and
1-22 WHEREAS, The safety and well-being of Texas families and
1-23 children being paramount to Senator Brooks, he secured passage of
2-1 the Child Care Licensing Act of 1975; he established state funding
2-2 for shelters for victims of family violence; and he created the
2-3 Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services to ensure
2-4 that the protection from abuse for people of all ages is given
2-5 priority attention; and
2-6 WHEREAS, Senator Brooks championed the causes of elderly
2-7 Texans by working valiantly to improve the conditions and quality
2-8 of care in nursing homes, to prevent unnecessary and premature
2-9 institutionalization, and to create the Texas Department on Aging
2-10 and the Long-Term Care Coordinating Council for the Elderly; and
2-11 WHEREAS, Aware that Alzheimer's disease is devastating to its
2-12 victims and their families, Senator Brooks championed their cause,
2-13 passing more than 11 bills and resolutions and creating the Council
2-14 on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders; and
2-15 WHEREAS, Senator Brooks has an impressive record of fighting
2-16 for the rights of persons with disabilities; he is responsible for
2-17 establishing sheltered workshops to provide employment opportunities
2-18 for persons with disabilities; prohibiting discrimination in housing
2-19 and employment; establishing the Southwest Collegiate Institute for
2-20 the Deaf; authorizing the Texas Commission for the Deaf to develop
2-21 and implement statewide services for deaf persons and to provide
2-22 training for interpreters; and establishing the Texas Council on
2-23 Disabilities; and
2-24 WHEREAS, The state's mentally ill and mentally retarded
2-25 citizens had no greater friend in the Texas Legislature;
3-1 Senator Brooks established community centers within the TDMHMR
3-2 system as alternatives to large residential facilities, requiring
3-3 them to place emphasis on mental health crisis counseling for
3-4 their clients; and he provided insurance coverage for residential
3-5 treatment centers for children and adolescents; and
3-6 WHEREAS, An outspoken proponent of cancer prevention and
3-7 treatment in the State of Texas, Senator Brooks helped establish
3-8 the Texas Cancer Council and Cancer Registry; he introduced the
3-9 Texas Smoke Free Indoor Air Act; and
3-10 WHEREAS, In 1989, this hardworking senator succeeded in
3-11 passing an Omnibus AIDS Bill; and
3-12 WHEREAS, Continuing his exemplary embodiment as protector of
3-13 all of our citizens, Senator Brooks was author of the Sexual Assault
3-14 Prevention Crisis Services Act in the 71st Legislature; and
3-15 WHEREAS, Always mindful of the special problems of rural
3-16 Texans, Senator Brooks sponsored the Center for Rural Health
3-17 Initiatives as well as the Omnibus Rural Health Care Bill in the
3-18 71st Legislature; he expanded health care services to thousands of
3-19 children and high-risk pregnant women; he enabled Texas to claim
3-20 over $1 billion last year in Medicaid funds to help compensate
3-21 rural and urban hospitals that carry a disproportionate share of
3-22 the treatment for indigent patients; and
3-23 WHEREAS, This dedicated public servant has gladly borne the
3-24 responsibilities of leadership throughout his career in public
3-25 service; it is only fitting and appropriate that recognition be
4-1 paid to Senator Brooks for his outstanding contributions as Chair
4-2 of the Texas Senate Committee on Health and Human Services,
4-3 1973-1992; now, therefore, be it
4-4 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
4-5 73rd Legislature, hereby applaud Senator Chet Brooks for his
4-6 superlative gifts of service to the citizens of Texas; and, be it
4-7 further
4-8 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for him
4-9 as an expression of the highest esteem, respect, and affection from
4-10 the Texas Senate.
4-11 Zaffirini Moncrief Shelley
4-12 Ellis Nelson Truan
4-13 Madla Patterson Wentworth
4-14 Armbrister Harris of Tarrant Rosson
4-15 Barrientos Henderson Shapiro
4-16 Bivins Leedom Sibley
4-17 Brown Lucio Sims
4-18 Carriker Luna Turner
4-19 Haley Montford West
4-20 Harris of Dallas Parker Whitmire
4-21 Ratliff
4-22 Bullock, President of the Senate
4-23 _____________________________________
4-24 President of the Senate
4-25 I hereby certify that the
5-1 above Resolution was adopted by
5-2 the Senate on February 11, 1993.
5-3 _____________________________________
5-4 Secretary of the Senate
5-5 _____________________________________
5-6 Chair, Health and Human
5-7 Services Committee