H.R. No. 436

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Construction workers and members of the Build a
	Better Texas Coalition are gathering in Austin on February 25,
	2015, to promote workplace safety in the construction industry; and
	WHEREAS, The construction industry plays a significant role
	in the Texas economy, with nearly one million Texans laboring in
	construction and generating $1 out of every $20 in the economy; and
	WHEREAS, Workplace safety in Texas is a serious issue; more
	construction workers die as a result of workplace accidents or
	conditions in Texas than in any other state; from 2009 to 2013, 528
	construction workers lost their lives on the job, nearly twice as
	many as in the state with the next highest number of deaths; in
	addition, one in every five construction workers in the state
	suffers an injury on the job that requires medical attention; and
	WHEREAS, Low wages and legal violations like wage theft and
	payroll fraud are common, with 41 percent of the workforce
	misclassified as independent contractors and one out of five
	workers falling victim to wage theft, further imperiling the
	economic stability of working families; and
	WHEREAS, Whenever employers in the industry fail to abide by
	the law, they decrease the ability of responsible businesses to
	compete, put the physical safety of their workers at risk, and force
	taxpayers to pick up costs resulting from their illegal practices;
	the Build a Better Texas Coalition is a group of businesses,
	community organizations, faith-based groups, and individuals who
	seek to foster workplace safety and to level the playing field for
	responsible businesses; and
	WHEREAS, Components of a proactive industry approach to
	worker safety include providing a safe workplace, adequate safety
	training and rest breaks, and workers' compensation insurance,
	which ensures that both workers and employers are protected in the
	event of a workplace accident; and
	WHEREAS, A strong and sustainable construction industry is
	essential to the economic prosperity of the Lone Star State, and
	such an industry is fostered by safe workplace practices and fair
	pay; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
	Legislature hereby recognize February 25, 2015, as the Day of the
	Fallen in memory of the thousands of Texans who have died in
	construction-related accidents and call on leaders in the
	construction industry to uphold the highest standards of workplace
	safety; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
	prepared for the Build a Better Texas Coalition to commemorate the
	Day of the Fallen.
	Walle
	Straus Guerra Otto
	Allen Guillen Paddie
	Alonzo Gutierrez Parker
	Alvarado Harless Paul
	Anchia Hernandez Peña
	Anderson of Dallas Herrero Phelan
	Anderson of McLennan Howard Phillips
	Ashby Huberty Pickett
	Aycock Hughes Price
	Bell Hunter Raney
	Blanco Isaac Raymond
	Bohac Israel Reynolds
	Bonnen of Brazoria Johnson Riddle
	Bonnen of Galveston Kacal Rinaldi
	Burkett Keffer Rodriguez of Bexar
	Burns Keough Rodriguez of Travis
	Burrows King of Hemphill Romero, Jr.
	Button King of Parker Rose
	Canales King of Taylor Sanford
	Capriglione King of Uvalde Schaefer
	Clardy Klick Schofield
	Coleman Koop Shaheen
	Collier Krause Sheets
	Cook Kuempel Sheffield
	Craddick Landgraf Simmons
	Crownover Larson Simpson
	Dale Laubenberg Smith
	Darby Leach Smithee
	Davis of Dallas Longoria Spitzer
	Davis of Harris Lozano Springer
	Deshotel Lucio III Stephenson
	Dukes Márquez Stickland
	Dutton Martinez Thompson of Brazoria
	Elkins Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris
	Faircloth McClendon Tinderholt
	Fallon Menéndez Turner of Collin
	Farias Metcalf Turner of Harris
	Farney Meyer Turner of Tarrant
	Farrar Miles VanDeaver
	Fletcher Miller of Comal Villalba
	Flynn Miller of Fort Bend Vo
	Frank Moody Walle
	Frullo Morrison White of Bell
	Galindo Muñoz, Jr. White of Tyler
	Geren Murphy Workman
	Giddings Murr Wray
	Goldman Naishtat Wu
	Gonzales Nevárez Zedler
	González Oliveira Zerwas
	______________________________
	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.R. No. 436 was unanimously adopted by a rising
	vote of the House on February 19, 2015.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House