H.R. No. 2505
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Legendary Texas Congressman and State
Representative Mickey Leland is being posthumously honored with the
dedication of an Official Texas Historical Marker at Texas Southern
University on August 18, 2023; and
WHEREAS, Born in Lubbock in 1944, George Thomas "Mickey"
Leland III grew up in Houston's Fifth Ward; a graduate of Phillis
Wheatley High School, he went on to earn a bachelor's degree in
pharmacy at TSU; even before he embarked on his career as an elected
official, he demonstrated a deep concern for those in need, and
while working as an instructor of clinical pharmacy at his alma
mater, he developed an educational outreach campaign offering
medical screenings to low-income residents; and
WHEREAS, Beginning his legislative service at the state
level, Congressman Leland first won election to the Texas House of
Representatives in 1972; he quickly gained renown in the area of
health care policy, and he helped coordinate the passage of
legislation for affordable generic drugs and supported the creation
of health maintenance organizations; a member of numerous
committees, he became the first African American to serve on the
Senate-House Conference Committee as a member of the House
Appropriations Committee, and he held the office of vice chair of
the Joint Committee on Prison Reform; and
WHEREAS, After three terms in the Texas House, Congressman
Leland was elected to the United States House of Representatives in
1978; taking a leading role on the issue of food insecurity, he
founded the House Select Committee on Hunger, secured $784 million
in funding for famine relief, and won passage of bills providing
fresh produce to low-income families and food and medical resources
for the homeless; he also helped establish the National Commission
on AIDS and served as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus from
1985 to 1987; moreover, he won praise from the State Department for
arranging the release of four Americans imprisoned in Cuba; and
WHEREAS, Congressman Leland tragically lost his life in a
plane crash in 1989 while leading a relief mission to a refugee camp
in Ethiopia; though his time on this earth proved far too brief, his
contributions have continued to resonate through the years,
inspiring legions of activists and public officials; in recognition
of his accomplishments, a number of facilities and initiatives have
been named in his honor, including a federal building and the Mickey
Leland College Preparatory Academy for Young Men in Houston and the
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Internship Program; in
addition, the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs
at TSU celebrates the contributions of these two groundbreaking
representatives from the 18th Congressional District; and
WHEREAS, Mickey Leland made a lasting, positive impact
through his tireless efforts to improve the lives of people in Texas
and around the globe, and the establishment of this official
historical marker is a fitting tribute to his remarkable legacy;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas
Legislature hereby commemorate the dedication of an Official Texas
Historical Marker honoring Congressman Mickey Leland.
Dutton
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2505 was adopted by the House on May
29, 2023, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House