TITLE: Honoring Ambassador Ron Kirk for his service as United States trade representative.

SUMMARY: Honoring Ambassador Ron Kirk for his service as United States trade representative.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Ambassador Ron Kirk has distinguished himself in his role as United States trade representative, and his dedicated work in that position is indeed deserving of recognition; and WHEREAS, A well-known figure in his home state of Texas, where he held numerous public offices, Ron Kirk was appointed to his present post by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the United States Senate in March 2009; as trade representative, he is the president's principal advisor, negotiator, and spokesperson on trade issues and is a member of the cabinet; and WHEREAS, Ambassador Kirk's tenure as trade representative has been marked by a renewed focus on assisting the nation's small and medium-sized businesses as well as on a robust enforcement of existing trade agreements; moreover, his office has worked to resolve issues related to pacts that have been signed with Colombia and Panama and to secure congressional approval of a landmark trade agreement with South Korea, in addition to carrying forth many other initiatives; and WHEREAS, In all of his efforts, Ambassador Kirk is motivated by the belief that proactive, responsible trade policies can play an essential role in economic recovery, create jobs in the United States, and assist American companies and workers as they compete in the global economy; and WHEREAS, This accomplished Texan draws on a broad range of experience; the mayor of Dallas from 1995 to 2001, he also served as Texas secretary of state under Governor Ann Richards, as chair of the state's General Services Commission, and as a legislative aide to U.S. senator Lloyd Bentsen; in the course of his law career, he worked as an assistant city attorney for the City of Dallas and as a partner at Vinson & Elkins LLP; and WHEREAS, Our country's economic well-being and international stature depend on an effective trade policy, and the determined leadership that Ron Kirk has demonstrated as U.S. trade representative is furthering that effort in important ways; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas Legislature hereby honor Ambassador Ron Kirk for his outstanding work as United States trade representative and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success; and, be it further RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be prepared for Ambassador Kirk as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Anchia Sheets Straus Gonzales of Williamson Morrison Aliseda Gonzalez Munoz, Jr. Allen Gooden Murphy Alonzo Guillen Naishtat Alvarado Gutierrez Nash Anchia Hamilton Oliveira Anderson of Dallas Hancock Orr Anderson of McLennan Hardcastle Otto Aycock Harless Parker Beck Harper-Brown Patrick Berman Hartnett Paxton Bohac Hernandez Luna Pena Bonnen Hilderbran Perry Branch Hochberg Phillips Brown Hopson Pickett Burkett Howard of Fort Bend Pitts Burnam Howard of Travis Price Button Huberty Quintanilla Cain Hughes Raymond Callegari Hunter Reynolds Carter Isaac Riddle Castro Jackson Ritter Chisum Johnson Rodriguez Christian Keffer Schwertner Coleman King of Parker Scott Cook King of Taylor Sheets Craddick King of Zavala Sheffield Creighton Kleinschmidt Shelton Crownover Kolkhorst Simpson Darby Kuempel Smith of Harris Davis of Dallas Landtroop Smith of Tarrant J. Davis of Harris Larson Smithee S. Davis of Harris Laubenberg Solomons Deshotel Lavender Strama Driver Legler Taylor of Collin Dukes Lewis Taylor of Galveston Dutton Lozano Thompson Eiland Lucio III Torres Eissler Lyne Truitt Elkins Madden Turner Farias Mallory Caraway Veasey Farrar Margo Villarreal Fletcher Marquez Vo Flynn Martinez Walle Frullo Martinez Fischer Weber Gallego McClendon White Garza Menendez Woolley Geren Miles Workman Giddings Miller of Comal Zedler Gonzales of Hidalgo Miller of Erath Zerwas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 516 was adopted by the House on February 24, 2011, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House