| 1 | 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 366 |
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| 2 | 2 | | WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to |
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| 3 | 3 | | recognize Sister Norma Pimentel and the staff of Catholic |
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| 4 | 4 | | Charities of the Rio Grande Valley for their leadership and aid |
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| 5 | 5 | | during the 2014 humanitarian crisis along the border between |
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| 6 | 6 | | Texas and Mexico; and |
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| 7 | 7 | | WHEREAS, In the summer of 2014, the Rio Grande Valley |
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| 8 | 8 | | experienced unexpected and overwhelming waves of immigrants |
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| 9 | 9 | | arriving in this country to find safe haven and to create better |
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| 10 | 10 | | lives for their families; among the immigrants were thousands of |
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| 11 | 11 | | unaccompanied children, many of whom had traveled for weeks over |
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| 12 | 12 | | long distances while facing many hardships along the way; and |
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| 13 | 13 | | WHEREAS, Sister Pimentel, executive director of Catholic |
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| 14 | 14 | | Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, and the organization's staff |
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| 15 | 15 | | were able to shepherd the resources of the community and welcome |
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| 16 | 16 | | these new arrivals by providing them with such basic necessities |
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| 17 | 17 | | as warm meals, showers, fresh clothing, toiletries, and |
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| 18 | 18 | | blankets; and |
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| 19 | 19 | | WHEREAS, To accomplish its mission, the organization drew |
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| 20 | 20 | | on the generosity of such local organizations and institutions as |
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| 21 | 21 | | Sacred Heart Church in McAllen, the Food Bank of the Rio Grande |
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| 22 | 22 | | Valley, the City of McAllen, and the Salvation Army of the Rio |
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| 23 | 23 | | Grande Valley; and |
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| 24 | 24 | | WHEREAS, Sister Pimentel worked diligently to ensure that |
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| 25 | 25 | | the immigrants were treated with the dignity and respect that |
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| 26 | 26 | | every person deserves; she was instrumental in efforts to keep |
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| 27 | 27 | | families together and to secure adequate facilities for the |
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| 28 | 28 | | unaccompanied children; and |
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| 29 | 29 | | WHEREAS, Under Sister Pimentel's exceptional leadership, |
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| 30 | 30 | | Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley has led the way in |
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| 31 | 31 | | demonstrating kindness and compassion; it is truly fitting that |
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| 32 | 32 | | Sister Pimentel and this outstanding organization receive |
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| 33 | 33 | | legislative recognition; now, therefore, be it |
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| 34 | 34 | | RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th |
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| 35 | 35 | | Legislature, hereby commend Sister Norma Pimentel and the staff |
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| 36 | 36 | | of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley on the remarkable |
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| 37 | 37 | | efforts they put forth in facing an emergency situation and |
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| 38 | 38 | | extend best wishes to them for continued success with their |
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| 39 | 39 | | humanitarian work; and, be it further |
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| 40 | 40 | | RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in |
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| 41 | 41 | | honor of Sister Norma Pimentel and Catholic Charities of the Rio |
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| 42 | 42 | | Grande Valley. |
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| 43 | 43 | | Lucio |
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| 44 | 44 | | ________________________________ |
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| 45 | 45 | | President of the Senate |
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| 46 | 46 | | I hereby certify that the |
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| 47 | 47 | | above Resolution was adopted by |
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| 48 | 48 | | the Senate on March 24, 2015. |
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| 49 | 49 | | ________________________________ |
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| 50 | 50 | | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 51 | 51 | | ________________________________ |
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| 52 | 52 | | Member, Texas Senate |
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