MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2011 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Davis, Burton, Carmichael, Hewes, Lee (35th), Clarke, Michel, Moffatt, Chassaniol, Ward, Yancey, Fillingane, Flowers, Watson, McDaniel, Browning, Hopson, Kirby, Dickerson, Baria, Blount, Butler (38th), Frazier, Jackson (11th), Jackson (32nd), Jones, King, Mettetal, Montgomery, Simmons, Stone, Turner, Wilemon
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING AND COMMENDING UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE PATRICK ALAN NUNNELEE FOR HIS OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE MISSISSIPPI SENATE AND TO THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.
WHEREAS, Patrick Alan Nunnelee is the new Representative for Mississippi's First Congressional District. Former Senator Nunnelee won 55% of the votes in the 24-county First District on November 2, 2010. He is a member of the Republican Party and served as the Mississippi State Senator for District 6; and
WHEREAS, Senator Nunnelee was elected to the State Senate on December 29, 1994, and was sworn in on January 2, 1995. Senator Nunnelee replaced Senator Roger Wicker after he was elected to Congress; and
WHEREAS, Nunnelee was born in Tupelo, Lee County, Mississippi, on October 9, 1958, graduated from Clinton High School in Clinton , Mississippi, in 1976 and then attended Mississippi State University, graduating with a bachelor's degree in 1980. Nunnelee was employed by American Funeral Assurance Company, eventually becoming Vice President of sales and marketing. His father was also employed by the company, rising to President and CEO. In 1996, Nunnelee and his father founded Allied Funeral Associates, Inc., and Allied Funeral Associates Insurance Company and he has served as Vice President and Director of both entities; and
WHEREAS, before beginning his political career he was a popular speaker, crediting God, organ donors and organizations such as the Lions Club for having his eyesight restored; and
WHEREAS, Senator Nunnelee was a very energetic chairman, was very knowledgeable of the Senate Rules of Procedure and was considered a leader in the Senate:
· Early in his career, Senator Nunnelee led efforts in the Senate to eliminate the marriage penalty in state income tax law.
· He advocated a tax credit for adoption expenses.
· Senator Nunnelee has been rated a Business Champion by the Business and Industry Political Education Committee (BIPEC) for his support of free enterprise every year that he has been in office.
· Alan was an advocate for tort reform and worked to see its passage in 2002 and 2004.
· As Chairman of the Public Health Committee, Senator Nunnelee led efforts to slow the growth of Medicaid and held historic hearings to pass legislative reorganization of the State Board of Health.
· As Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Nunnelee made the budget process more open to the Senate membership, but more importantly to the people who are paying the bills. The Senator believed that when elected officials expect to be inspected by the taxpayers, they will do a better job.
· Alan led efforts to pass an innovative program where community colleges recruit students who have dropped out of school and help them to obtain their GED.
· Senator Nunnelee was a leading advocate in the Senate of the Wellspring Project. This project was the first in the state that involved multiple counties partnering to enhance their economic development efforts. Ultimately this led to the location of Toyota in Blue Springs; and
WHEREAS, Alan is a member of the Community Development Foundation's Board of Directors. In addition, Alan is a Deacon and Sunday School teacher at Calvary Baptist Church, Tupelo. He is also a youth baseball coach. He and his wife, Tori, have three children: Reed (Kemily), Emily (Trey) and Nathan; and the newest member of the Nunnelee family, Thomas Kemp Nunnelee, born November 10, 2009. He is the 8th generation of Nunnelee men to inhabit the State of Mississippi, and certainly made the 6th generation very proud; and
WHEREAS, Alan has stated: "I believe that the strength of America lies in its people, neighborhoods, churches and communities, not in the federal government. I believe our leaders can learn something from the good people of Mississippi. I am proud of Mississippi and I will be the same person in Washington as I am here at home"; and
WHEREAS, Alan Nunnelee has provided firm, effective and constructive leadership, coupled with a keen understanding of the issues facing Mississippi, and the members of this Legislature wish to express sincere appreciation to Alan Nunnelee for his many outstanding accomplishments and record of dedicated public service:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize and commend United States Representative Patrick Alan Nunnelee for his outstanding service to the Mississippi Senate and to the people of the State of Mississippi, and extend our best wishes to former Senator Nunnelee and his family as he assumes his new duties with the United States Congress.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to Congressman Nunnelee and his family, forwarded to the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.