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| 3 | 4 | | |
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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The tragic death of U.S. Army Specialist Vanessa |
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| 6 | 7 | | Guillén on April 22, 2020, at the age of 20, shocked and saddened |
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| 7 | 8 | | countless people across the state and nation, and it is indeed |
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| 8 | 9 | | appropriate to reflect on her life and legacy on the occasion of |
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| 9 | 10 | | Vanessa Guillén Day on September 30, 2021; and |
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| 10 | 11 | | WHEREAS, A native of Houston, Vanessa Guillén was born on |
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| 11 | 12 | | September 30, 1999, to Rogelio and Gloria Guillén, and she grew up |
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| 12 | 13 | | with the companionship of five siblings, Mayra, Yovana, Guadalupe, |
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| 13 | 14 | | Manuel, and Roger; she excelled as both a student and an athlete at |
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| 14 | 15 | | Cesar Chavez High School, and her desire to serve her country |
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| 15 | 16 | | inspired her to enlist in the United States Army when she was 18 |
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| 16 | 17 | | years old; only a few days after she graduated from high school, she |
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| 17 | 18 | | began her career in the military and entered basic training; and |
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| 18 | 19 | | WHEREAS, First stationed in South Carolina and then in |
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| 19 | 20 | | Virginia, Specialist Guillén was later assigned to Fort Hood as a |
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| 20 | 21 | | small arms/artillery repairer with the 3rd Cavalry Regiment; she |
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| 21 | 22 | | was recognized for her dedication to duty with the Army |
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| 22 | 23 | | Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the |
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| 23 | 24 | | Army Service Ribbon; and |
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| 24 | 25 | | WHEREAS, Vanessa Guillén went missing from her post on April |
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| 25 | 26 | | 22, 2020, and on June 30 her body was discovered; in the |
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| 26 | 27 | | investigation that followed, law enforcement identified a fellow |
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| 27 | 28 | | soldier as the prime suspect in her murder, and it was also revealed |
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| 28 | 29 | | that Specialist Guillén was planning to formally accuse the man of |
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| 29 | 30 | | sexual harassment; this turn of events inspired many current and |
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| 30 | 31 | | former members of the U.S. military, including those who had |
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| 31 | 32 | | experienced sexual harassment and sexual assault, to stand in |
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| 32 | 33 | | solidarity with Specialist Guillén, and they were joined by |
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| 33 | 34 | | countless members of the general public; and |
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| 34 | 35 | | WHEREAS, The death of Specialist Guillén has focused |
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| 35 | 36 | | attention on the current laws and policies regarding sexual |
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| 36 | 37 | | harassment in the military; in an effort to achieve meaningful |
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| 37 | 38 | | change in the wake of this tragedy, the I am Vanessa Guillén Act was |
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| 38 | 39 | | introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives with bipartisan |
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| 39 | 40 | | support; if the legislation becomes law, it would mandate a |
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| 40 | 41 | | comprehensive reform of the military's procedures for handling |
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| 41 | 42 | | sexual harassment allegations; in Texas, House Concurrent |
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| 42 | 43 | | Resolution 51 was filed during the 87th Legislative Session to urge |
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| 43 | 44 | | Congress to pass the act; and |
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| 44 | 45 | | WHEREAS, Although Vanessa Guillén's senseless death is a |
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| 45 | 46 | | source of profound sadness, her spirit lives on in the hearts of her |
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| 46 | 47 | | loved ones and all those who are fighting for justice in her name; |
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| 47 | 48 | | now, therefore, be it |
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| 48 | 49 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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| 49 | 50 | | Legislature hereby recognize September 30, 2021, as Vanessa Guillén |
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| 50 | 51 | | Day and pay tribute to her memory. |
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