(continuing) 

REP. STRAUS:  The House will come to order.Members, please register.Have all members registered?  Quorum is present.  The House and gallery please rise for the invocation.  Chair recognizes Representative Howard to introduce the pastor for the invocation.

REP. HOWARD:  Mr. Speaker, members, I'm very happy to be able to introduce to you today the Reverend Dr. Jim Bankhead who is the interim pastor for discipleship at Westlake Presbyterian Church.  He was very gracious to come and fill in today when we needed somebody to replace someone who couldn't be here.  But even better than that, for 11 years I think it is, Four Price was one of his parishioners in Amarillo.  So Four is going to also come up and introduce him.  Four?

REP. STRAUS:  Chair recognizes Mr. Price.

MR. PRICE:   Thank you, Mr. Speaker.Members, it's my privilege to introduce Jim Bankhead. As a freshman, I come off the elevator and see very few familiar faces but today when I came up the back elevator, Dr. Bankhead was standing in the back hallway and it's a real privilege for me to see him.  He was my pastor, senior pastor for ten years in Amarillo, Texas at First Presbyterian Church.  He's one of the most godly men you'd ever want to meet and it is a real privilege for him to deliver the invocation today.  So please welcome Jim Bankhead.

MR. BANKHEAD:  Let us pray together. Living God, our heavenly Father, the governor of all creation, you've inspired and moved governments to do good for people when they humble themselves and seek you.  So work in the hearts of these women and men that they stay humble before you in caring for one another as they seek together to make wise and caring decisions forthe people of our state.  I pray this in Jesus' name and all God's people sake.  Amen.

REP. STRAUS:  Chair recognizes Rep. Scott to lead us in the pledge of allegiance.

REP. SCOTT:  Members and guests, if you will join me now in the pledge to the American and the Texas flag, the American first.  I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Honor the Texas flag.  I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible.  Thank you.

REP. STRAUS:  Chair will read excuses forabsent members.  Excuse Representative Woolley today and tomorrow because of important business on the motion of Representative Elkins.  Excuse Representative Menendez because of important business on the motion of Representative Raymond.  Excuse Representatives Madden and Smithee because of important business on the motion of Representative Bohac.  Is there objection?  Chair hears none, so order. Chair recognizes Representative Howard to introduce the doctor of the day.

REP. HOWARD:  Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, we are very fortunate to have Nurse Tim Flynn who's there every day to help take care of us.  We have very good access to the health care here in the Capitol. And to make that work, we also have a doctor of the day that comes and -- while we're in session.  Today, we have Dr. Kirk Frederick who is a family practitioner, the kind of person that we need more of out there to provide direct primary care to patients.  We're very fortunate to have him.  Please help me to welcome Dr. Kirk Frederick.

REP. STRAUS:  Chair recognizes Representative Zerwas for recognition.

REP. ZERWAS:  Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and members.  Today we have Usus Babonnily and members ofthe U.S. Sera network here today in the south gallery standing up here to my right, your left. Tomorrow marks the 21st anniversary of Black January.  It was a tragic day in which 26,000 Soviet troops invaded the sovereign state of Abu Bazan. 170 Abu Bazannies were killed, 321 went missing and over 700 were wounded resisting the Soviet occupation and eventually ending Soviet rule.  Members, please help me in welcoming this group to the Texas House.  Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

REP. STRAUS:  Chair recognizes Representative Strama for a motion.

REP. STRAMA:  Thank you, Mr. Speaker.  I move to suspend unnecessary rules to take up andconsider House Resolution 92.

REP. STRAUS:  Members, you've heard themotion, is there an objection?  Chair hears none, order. Chair lays out HR 92.  The Clerk will read the resolution.

CLERK:  HR 92 by Strama.  Whereas, the Operation Cookie program provides a taste of home to American military personnel around the world and from January 19th to February 25th, 2011, the Girl Scouts ofcentral Texas are collecting boxes of donated cookies for servicemen and servicewomen as part of their annual cookie sale; And whereas, the cookie fundraiser has been an important part of the Girl Scout visits and economically has received an initiative every year since December 1917, helped girls learn such life skills as money management, team work and public speaking.  In 2010, 12,992 Girl Scouts in central Texas sold 2,109,912 boxes, raising more than 5 million to support theiractivities; And whereas, for the past 6 years, Operation Cookie has been part of GSCTX cookie drives asGirl Scouts send boxes of cookies and letters of supportto U. S. military men and women who are serving at home or overseas, as well as to wounded veterans recoveringin military veterans hospitals.  GSCTX Operation Interdependence (inaudible) angels to ship care packages overseas; And whereas, in 2010 Operation Cookie collected 443,501 boxes of cookies and created 18,945 care packages and sent 25,000 letters to service personnel.  Cookies were distributed to such places as Brooke Army Medical Center, the VA hospitals in Waco and Temple, Good Fellow Air Force Base and Fort Hood among many other destinations. And whereas, the Girl Scout movement inspires young women to become leaders and provides them a solid foundation for future achievement and the Girl Scouts of central Texas may take great pride in their special efforts on behalf of the men and women of America's armed forces; Now, therefore, be it resolved that the House of Representatives, the 82nd Texas Legislature hereby commemorate the start of Operation Cookie 2011 and commend all participants for the support of our brave troops at home and abroad. And be it further resolved that an official copy of this resolution will be prepared for the Girl Scouts of central Texas as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.

REP. STRAUS:  Chair recognizes Rep. Strama.

REP. STRAMA:  Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, if I could have your attention for one second. You will note up in the gallery we are visited by a group of some of the outstanding young sales people who have kicked off their cookie drive today through February 21st.  Please join me in welcoming some of the Girl Scouts from around the central Texas area to the Texas House. They are here to ask something of you.  In addition to selling cookies, they are operating Operation Cookie, a cookie drive to send cookies with letters of support to our troops overseas and at home and in military hospitals around the country.  You will, when you visit the members' lounge today, have your own personal gift from these Girl Scouts that they brought for you as part of Operation Cookie.  There is a box of cookies waiting for you in the lounge. Here's what I ask of you in return.  I would like to ask you each to send a letter of support for our troops that can be enclosed with a box of cookies as part of Operation Cookie.  Last year Operation Cookie delivered over 25,000 letters like that.  Please deliver your letter to my office and we will deliver to the Girl Scouts to include with Operation Cookie.  Put it on your letterhead.  Some of you did this last year and we got really touching, really supportive letters and we appreciate it. Deliver your letters to my office sometime in the next month.  I will send out a reminder to each of your offices.  This is an invitation for you and your staff to send a letter of support to our troops to be enclosed with a box of cookies as a part of Operation Cookie. There is another way you can help, which is you can buy a box of cookies or ten for troops overseas that they will deliver for you as part of Operation Cookie.  Now, to avoid becoming the subject of the next viral YouTube videos, I would ask you not to hand me your cash on the House floor.  But you can bring me your cash to my office and I'll get most of it to the Girl Scouts.  No, Charlie Geren, I see you working. We're joined also in addition to our guests in the gallery by two of my constituents, Catherine and Anna Wicker, who have brought this to me each session, who work really hard on this.  Not just to raise money for Girl Scouts but to support our troops overseas.  I hope all of you will join me in joining Operation Cookie and supporting Operation Cookie and I move adoption of the resolution.

REP. STRAUS:  Members, you've heard the motion.  Is there objection?  Chair hears none, so ordered. Mr. Chisum moves that all members' names be added.  Is there objection?  Chair hears none, it's ordered. Chair recognizes Mr. Chisum for anannouncement.

Mr. Chisum:  Members, I want to tell you about this Bible that's in every person's desk.  It's put there by the House Bible class.  So if you would, we will ask you to put your favorite scripture in that or in the cover there.  They got a place to do that. The House Bible class meets in the members' lounge on Tuesday morning.  Leo Berman is teaching next Tuesday so he is -- 7:00 a.m.  7:00 a.m. So if you would, if you desire to come to our Bible class, it's House members.  It will be always taught byone of the members so please come be there.And if you desire to purchase one of these Bibles, we can help you with that at the House Bible class or you call my office, we will do that, get you one.  So if you -- they make great gifts.  We have different sizes and all the money stays with the House Bible class so that we replace them.  We put them in every statewide elected official's office, so.  And the House does that and we also furnish them for the Senate so they're good guys so we just put one over there too.Thank you.

REP. STRAUS:  Chair recognizes Rep. Riddle for an announcement.

REP. RIDDLE:  Thank you, Mr. Speaker.  My Republican colleagues, I left something special in your chairs so make sure and take a look at it, a letter and then a brochure. Members, we all know that we wouldn't be able to do a fraction of what we do without our staff. My chief of staff, Jonathan English, has been in my office -- he's been with my office for about the past eight years or maybe even a little bit longer.  This is going to be his last session and it's a very special session for him but today is his birthday and I wanted to publicly wish Jonathan English happy birthday.  Come by our office, have some tiff treats and just let him know how much we appreciate him and all of our staff. Thank you.  Happy birthday, Jonathan.

REP. STRAUS:  Chair recognizes Rep. Anchia for an announcement.

REP. ANCHIA:  Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, Senator Carona and I invite you to attend the important educational event on securing Texas's energy future.  Jobs, efficiency and competitiveness in the Legislative Conference Center at 2 p.m. this afternoon. Chairman Smitherman of the Public Utility Commission will provide a brief overview of the success of the energy efficiency program in Texas that is helping create business and helping residents save money.  Employers that are prominent in Texas such as HEB, Texas Instruments and Ingersoll Rand will share how they're saving money, creating jobs and reducing electricity waste in our state. And finally, Intel will be exhibiting a new prototype for energy saving technologies and others will show you equipment and tools of the trade that create jobs and make our energy resources go farther. As all of you know, I'm very interested in energy efficiency and this will be an important educational event that I hope you will share with us.  Thank you, Mr. Speaker and members.

REP. STRAUS:  Chair recognizes Rep. King forrecognition.

REP. KING:  Thank you, Mr. Speaker.  And members, it gives me a great deal of pleasure and pride to recognize a very special group that's here from District 80 from the Natalia High School. For the last three school years, the administrators and administration at Natalia High School has issued a challenge to the seniors to take advantage of the early admission process and apply to three colleges or universities by the early admission deadline.  Of the 58 seniors at Natalia High Shool, 42 of them met the challenge.  And to date, one student has been accepted at the Citadel, Texas A&M of Baylor and several other students have been accepted to University of Texas, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech and UTSA. These 42 students are seated in the north wing of the House gallery today and they will have the opportunity to review their higher education options to make decisions.  Please join me in giving a rousing round of applause to congratulate these 42 students who are joined today from Natalia High School by their principal David Bush, their counselor Maria Alaniz and the mayor of the City of Natalia, Ruby Vera.  Please stand in the north gallery if y'all would. Ladies and gentlemen, these types of students are the ones that make all of us in Texas very, very proud of our public education system.  Thank y'all for being here today.

REP. STRAUS:  Chair recognizes Representatives Miller, Aycock and Sheffield for anannouncement.

REP. AYCOCK:  Members, we're the delegation from Fort Hood.  It's so large it takes three representatives to represent those folks.  The largest single point payroll in Texas we believe is at Fort Hood, Texas, $10 billion a year impact to the state.  And we're going to have a Fort Hood Day so you can see it up close and personal, chance to ride a helicopter, mix and mingle with the soldiers.  We'll even have an opportunity to meet soldiers that live in your district.  It will be a social event at the end ofthe day and you will have soldiers from your district there to mix and mingle with.  We would encourage you to call Morgan in my office and hope as many as we can possibly get to go to Fort Hood for Fort Hood Day. You're also allowed to take one staffer from each officeif you'd like.  So let us know and you've got to havethose numbers to reserve the helicopters and flightspace real soon.  Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

REP. STRAUS:  Chair recognizes Rep. Hughes for an announcement.

Rep. Hughes:  Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, I want to remind everyone about an event todayat lunch and also in the morning, Capitol Commission. Many of us have been to the weekly Bible studies.  It will be every Wednesday at lunch in the Austin Club andthen also Thursday mornings for those who don't want tomake it at Wednesday at lunch.  And so today, it will beat 11:30.  We'll go to the Austin Club and get our food and go downstairs.  Everyone's invited.  About 17 were there last week and then six the next morning.  So Capitol Commission Bible study.  All members are invited.  Austin Club today at 11:30.  Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

REP. STRAUS:  Chair recognizes Rep. Pitts for an announcement.

Rep. Pitts:  Mr. Speaker, members, immediately on adjournment in the House chamber, I'd like to visit with the members to explain the bill that was put in your boxes last night.  We're going to do kind of a large explanation.  Some of the detail we'll probably want to get with you next week and talk to you about.  But if you would, stay after adjournment and we'll immediately start the explanation.  There will be microphones so people can ask questions.  So immediately on adjournment on the House floor.

REP. STRAUS:  Chair recognizes REP. SOLOMONSfor announcement.

REP. SOLOMONS:  Speaker, thank you.  And members, for those of you who came to the rules House meeting yesterday, we had a pretty productive meeting. We're going to do that as well after Rep. Pitts.  We're going to meet in room 130 again in the Reagan building for anybody else who wants to come back and talk about any other issues that they may have come up with.  I've even thought of a couple that I want to talk about.  So if you can make it after Rep. Pitts does his layout and discussion of the bill and we adjourn, shortlythereafter we're going to meet in room 130 in the Reagan building to have a follow-up discussion before the rulesbill can be drafted -- or rules resolution can bedrafted.  And what my plan is, is that after this meeting we're going to start drafting a bill or resolution to be filed sometime on Thursday.  I was hoping Thursday morning but it might end up being after lunch sometime Thursday afternoon.  It will be laid out so you'll have plenty of time to look at it.  And what our plan is to do the House rules on Monday.  Whether it's in the morning or afternoon is still to be decided but at the end of the day we're going to try to get it over with on Monday so we can get our committee cards in -- out and in so that you can then have that time frame so we can get kind of committees rolling.  Thank you.

REP. STRAUS:  Chair recognizes Representative Otto for an announcement.

REP. OTTO:  Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Members, this announcement is primarily for new members but some of you veteran members may want to participate in this as well. The comptroller will be holding a new member orientation on Wednesday.  That's next Wednesday, January 26th, at 2:00 p.m. in room E110 in the Capitol extension.  The comptroller will provide briefings onthe agency, its role in the legislative process and how their resources can be helpful as we go through the session.  Again, that's a briefing new member orientation by the comptroller next Wednesday the 26th at 2:00 p.m. in E110.  Thank you.

REP. STRAUS:  Chair recognizes REP. HUNTER for an announcement.

REP. HUNTER:  Members, as a reminder, the select committee on election contest will meet today at3:00 p.m.  That's the select committee on election contest, 3:00 p.m. today in E2010, that's E2010.  It's an organizational meeting, formal meeting.

REP. STRAUS:  Speaker's desk is clear.  If you have any announcements, bring them down. No other announcements.  Representative Farias moves that the House stand adjourned until 10:00 a.m. tomorrow.