By: Shapleigh	S.C.R. No. 49

	SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
	WHEREAS, on Tuesday, February 17, 2009, President Barack
	Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009,
	which was adopted by both houses of Congress on Friday, February 12,
	2009, in an effort to revitalize the American economic market and to
	reassure the global market of our nation's commitment to fiscal
	accountability; and
	WHEREAS, in the midst of the worst economic downturn since
	the Great Depression, it is imperative that the federal government
	take the necessary steps to reinvigorate the economy in order to
	protect the fundamental rights and interests of all citizens; and
	WHEREAS, the impact of our nation's economic crisis has begun
	to take a toll on Texas, threatening health care accessibility and
	affordability, education, transportation, state infrastructure,
	and other vital state services; and
	WHEREAS, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
	is expected to create and save 3.5 million jobs, provide an
	immediate tax cut to 95% of the nation's employed workforce, and
	invest in roads, bridges, mass transit, energy efficiency, flood
	control, clean water projects, and other infrastructure projects in
	our nation; and
	WHEREAS, Section 1607 of the American Recovery and
	Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides that if, within 45 days of its
	enactment, the state's governor fails to certify the state's
	intention to request and use funds provided under the act, then the
	state's legislature may certify the state's intention to use funds
	not accepted for use by the governor by means of the adoption of a
	concurrent resolution expressing that intent; and
	WHEREAS, on Thursday, March 12, 2009, Governor Rick Perry
	indicated his intention not to certify $556 million that the State
	of Texas would receive for the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund
	from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009; and
	WHEREAS, since the beginning of the most recent economic
	downturn, over 250,000 Texans have lost their jobs, including
	75,000 in January 2009 alone, the single largest monthly loss on
	record; and
	WHEREAS, the United States Federal Reserve in Dallas has
	forecast that the Texas economy will lose up to 300,000 jobs in
	2009; and
	WHEREAS, the state's Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund
	will have a deficit of at least $800 million by September 2009,
	which will automatically trigger the imposition of the unemployment
	replenishment tax (or "deficit tax") on Texas employers; and
	WHEREAS, the Texas Workforce Commission may be able to
	temporarily lessen the impact of the deficit tax on Texas employers
	by either bonding or borrowing, but Texas employers will still have
	to repay any bonded or borrowed money; and
	WHEREAS, it is credibly estimated that the deficit tax will
	likely double the overall unemployment tax burden on the average
	Texas employer; and
	WHEREAS, in order to receive the $556 million for the
	Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund from the American Recovery and
	Reinvestment Act of 2009, the Legislature must make modifications
	to existing law; the net gain for Texas through the 2010-2011
	biennium would be approximately $474 million to the Unemployment
	Compensation Trust Fund; and
	WHEREAS, the deficit tax on Texas employers is estimated to
	increase to 1.09 percent if the funds are not accepted; the tax will
	increase to only .34 percent if the funds are accepted; and
	WHEREAS, it is credibly estimated that each $1 in
	unemployment funds distributed in Texas has a $2.24 effect on the
	Texas economy; and
	WHEREAS, Comptroller Susan Combs estimates that 2010-2011
	revenues will suffer a $9.1 billion shortfall, representing a
	projected 10.5 percent decline from the current budget; and
	WHEREAS, Spending cuts will affect not only education,
	transportation, and other vital state services; state spending cuts
	also undermine potential growth by removing dollars that would
	otherwise be spent on goods and services produced or delivered in
	the state; and
	WHEREAS, in addition to the funds for the Unemployment
	Compensation Fund, Texas would benefit from provisions of the
	American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 designed to preserve
	and create jobs, provide investment in technology, transportation,
	energy efficiency, environmental protection, and infrastructure,
	and to minimize or avert reductions in essential services; and
	WHEREAS, with oil and gas prices and exports declining, Texas
	can expect to feel the effects of the recession more sharply; it is
	essential that the state quickly take advantage of all recovery
	funds available from the federal government in order to lessen the
	impact of the current economic downturn and prepare the foundation
	for long-term growth and prosperity when the national economy
	recovers; and
	WHEREAS, it is incumbent upon the Legislature, as the elected
	representative body charged with protecting all Texans' interests,
	to take initiative to ensure the prosperity of state citizens and
	assist them in this time of national financial crisis; now,
	therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, that the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas
	does hereby certify the state's intention to request and use all
	funds that may be available to the state under the American Recovery
	and Reinvestment Act of 2009, to mitigate the effects of the
	nation's recession in the State of Texas and provide necessary
	assistance to its citizens during this economic downturn; and be it
	further
	RESOLVED, that the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas
	does hereby certify its intention to accept any funds that may be
	available to the state under the American Recovery and Reinvestment
	Act of 2009 that are not accepted for use by the Governor in
	accordance with Section 1607 of that Act; and be it further
	RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be furnished to
	President Barack Obama, the Speaker of the United States House of
	Representatives, and President of the United States Senate, members
	of the Texas Congressional Delegation, Governor Rick Perry, and to
	the members of the Capitol Press Corps.