| 1 | 1 | | H.R. No. 2499 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, Arturo S. Rodriguez, president of the United Farm |
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| 6 | 6 | | Workers, is celebrating his 60th birthday on June 23, 2009; and |
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| 7 | 7 | | WHEREAS, Mr. Rodriguez assumed the leadership of the UFW in |
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| 8 | 8 | | 1993, following the death of Cesar Chavez; during his presidency, |
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| 9 | 9 | | he has worked tirelessly to continue building the union that Mr. |
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| 10 | 10 | | Chavez founded and to develop it into a powerful voice for |
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| 11 | 11 | | agricultural laborers; Mr. Rodriguez is committed to achieving such |
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| 12 | 12 | | vital goals for farmworkers as decent pay, health coverage, job |
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| 13 | 13 | | security, retirement benefits, protection against toxic chemicals |
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| 14 | 14 | | and other substances, and guarantees against discrimination and |
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| 15 | 15 | | sexual harassment; in addition, he strives to make it easier for |
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| 16 | 16 | | workers to organize and negotiate union contracts; and |
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| 17 | 17 | | WHEREAS, Under his able leadership, the UFW has grown in |
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| 18 | 18 | | membership and won a number of important victories; among its |
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| 19 | 19 | | recent successes have been agreements with one of the nation's |
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| 20 | 20 | | largest vegetable growers, as well as the country's biggest |
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| 21 | 21 | | strawberry operation, rose producer, winery, and dairy; and |
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| 22 | 22 | | WHEREAS, Born in San Antonio, Mr. Rodriguez earned a |
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| 23 | 23 | | bachelor's degree from St. Mary's University in 1971 and a master's |
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| 24 | 24 | | degree in social work from the University of Michigan in 1973; he |
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| 25 | 25 | | became active with the UFW grape boycott while an undergraduate and |
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| 26 | 26 | | organized support for farmworker boycotts during his student days |
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| 27 | 27 | | in Michigan; a resident of Keene, California, Mr. Rodriguez has |
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| 28 | 28 | | worked full-time with the UFW since 1973; and |
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| 29 | 29 | | WHEREAS, One of this nation's foremost labor leaders, Arturo |
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| 30 | 30 | | Rodriguez continues to render outstanding service in behalf of |
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| 31 | 31 | | farmworkers in the United States, and it is indeed fitting that he |
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| 32 | 32 | | be recognized for his significant contributions to the advancement |
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| 33 | 33 | | of social and economic justice; now, therefore, be it |
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| 34 | 34 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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| 35 | 35 | | Legislature hereby congratulate Arturo S. Rodriguez on the occasion |
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| 36 | 36 | | of his 60th birthday and commend him for his unwavering efforts to |
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| 37 | 37 | | secure a brighter future for America's farmworkers and their |
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| 38 | 38 | | families; and, be it further |
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| 39 | 39 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 40 | 40 | | prepared for Mr. Rodriguez as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 41 | 41 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
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| 42 | 42 | | Chavez |
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| 43 | 43 | | ______________________________ |
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| 44 | 44 | | Speaker of the House |
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| 45 | 45 | | I certify that H.R. No. 2499 was adopted by the House on May |
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| 46 | 46 | | 28, 2009, by a non-record vote. |
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| 47 | 47 | | ______________________________ |
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| 48 | 48 | | Chief Clerk of the House |
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