TITLE: Commemorating the groundbreaking for the George W. Bush Presidential Center at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

SUMMARY: Commemorating the groundbreaking for the George W. Bush Presidential Center at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Former President George W. Bush, former First Lady Laura Bush, Southern Methodist University President R. Gerald Turner, and many other dignitaries gathered on the SMU campus in Dallas on November 16, 2010, to celebrate the groundbreaking for the George W. Bush Presidential Center; and WHEREAS, Designed by acclaimed architect Robert A. M. Stern, the state-of-the-art facility will encompass more than 225,000 square feet of space for the Bush Presidential Center's three components, the archive, presidential museum, and policy institute; the prominent 24-acre site, landscaped by noted designer Michael Van Valkenburgh, will feature a wildflower meadow, gardens, courtyards, a tall grass prairie, and clearings for butterflies and birds; and WHEREAS, The George W. Bush Presidential Library, the nation's 13th presidential library, is administered by the National Archives and Records Administration; it will hold approximately 70 million pages of textual records, 1,200 cubic feet of audiovisual records, and more than 80 terabytes of electronic records, among them over 209 million e-mails and 4 million digital photographs; in 2009, archivists began processing these presidential records for public use and research; the center's museum will include an interactive tour, as well as an exact replica of the Oval Office, and highlight case studies of decisions made in the Bush White House; dedicated to improving the human condition through education reform, global health, freedom, and economic growth, the George W. Bush Institute will encompass the Women's Initiative, chaired by Laura Bush and focused on social and economic opportunities for women and children; and WHEREAS, On its completion, the Bush Presidential Center will add a new dimension to Southern Methodist University, providing unique opportunities for the public and members of the SMU community to learn about a seminal period in American history and for visiting scholars to study national and global issues; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby commemorate the groundbreaking for the George W. Bush Presidential Center and commend all those associated with the center for their contributions; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for the George W. Bush Presidential Center as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Branch Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 251 was adopted by the House on June 28, 2011, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House