Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SR685 Compare Versions

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1	1	SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 685
2	2	WHEREAS, Latino and Latina elected officials from Texas
3	3	have distinguished themselves at all levels of government, and
4	4	their increased participation in public service through the
5	5	years reflects the vibrant diversity that is synonymous with the
6	6	Lone Star State; and
7	7	WHEREAS, Latino candidates have successfully competed in
8	8	elections since the early decades of the state's history, and
9	9	today, Latinos and Latinas have become integral to the political
10	10	process in Texas; they serve their fellow citizens as city
11	11	council members and county commissioners, as judges, and as
12	12	members of the Texas Legislature and the United States Congress,
13	13	among other elective offices; and
14	14	WHEREAS, Though individuals of Latino descent have faced
15	15	many challenges in gaining a prominent voice in government, out of
16	16	that struggle has emerged a series of legendary figures in the
17	17	Texas political landscape; in 1904, Representative José Tomás
18	18	Canales of Brownsville became the first Mexican American elected
19	19	to the Texas Legislature in the 20th century, and in 1919, during
20	20	his fifth term in office, he led a landmark legislative
21	21	investigation into the violence carried out by members of the
22	22	Texas Rangers against Latinos; as Latinos took a larger role in
23	23	politics following World War II, Eligio "Kika" de la Garza was a
24	24	trailblazer, completing six terms in the Texas House before
25	25	serving more than three decades in Congress; Latina public
26	26	officials came to the fore beginning in the 1970s, and in 1977 Irma
27	27	Rangel became the first Mexican American woman to serve in the
28	28	Texas House; she went on to be reelected 13 times and was the first
29	29	female chair of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus; and
30	30	WHEREAS, The 86th Texas Legislature stands as a proud
31	31	example of the increased prominence of Latinos in public office,
32	32	with Latino and Latina legislators forming a sizable portion of
33	33	both chambers; among them is another pivotal figure, Judith
34	34	Zaffirini, who in 1987 became the first Mexican American woman to
35	35	serve in the Texas Senate; during her long tenure in the upper
36	36	chamber, she has compiled an unparalleled record of more than
37	37	60,000 consecutive votes and has sponsored over 1,000 bills that
38	38	have passed into law; in addition, she has chaired many Senate
39	39	committees, including Higher Education, Health and Human
40	40	Services, and Government Organization; and
41	41	WHEREAS, Through their exceptional achievements in public
42	42	service, Latino officeholders have given voice to their
43	43	communities while working to improve the lives of all residents
44	44	of the Lone Star State, and in so doing, they have exemplified the
45	45	ideals upon which our nation was founded; now, therefore, be it
46	46	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th
47	47	Legislature, hereby recognize the contributions of current and
48	48	former Latino and Latina elected officials and extend to those
49	49	presently serving sincere best wishes for continued success with
50	50	their important work.
51	51	Menéndez
52	52	________________________________
53	53	President of the Senate
54	54	I hereby certify that the
55	55	above Resolution was adopted by
56	56	the Senate on May 2, 2019.
57	57	________________________________
58	58	Secretary of the Senate
59	59	________________________________
60	60	Member, Texas Senate