H.R. No. 43 R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, Black History Month is being celebrated in February 2023 in recognition of the rich cultural heritage and significant achievements of African Americans; and WHEREAS, The observance was first conceived by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a Harvard-educated scholar and the son of former slaves, who saw a need to promote the research and study of African American history at a time when it was overlooked by mainstream historians; in 1926, Dr. Woodson chose the second week of February as Negro History Week, due to the fact that it included the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, two men of great influence to Black Americans; in 1976, President Gerald R. Ford expanded and formalized the celebration to include the entire month of February and urged citizens to use it as an opportunity "to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history"; and WHEREAS, The country has continued to work toward gaining greater understanding of the enormity of African American contributions in all realms; in September 2016, Barack Obama, the first African American president of the United States, helped to inaugurate the National Museum of African American History and Culture, noting the centrality of the African American experience to the American story; at the opening ceremony, former president George W. Bush, who signed the 2003 bill authorizing construction of the building, affirmed the study of African American history as a demonstration of our commitment to a fuller, more comprehensive telling of the nation's story; and WHEREAS, While the journey of African Americans toward freedom, equality, and justice is ongoing, the progress that has been made thus far gives hope that our society can continue to move forward and embrace change for the betterment of all people; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas Legislature hereby recognize February 2023 as Black History Month and encourage all Texans to take advantage of opportunities for learning, reflection, and celebration. Reynolds Phelan Guerra Murr Phelan Guerra Murr Phelan Guerra Murr Allen Guillen Neave Criado Allen Guillen Neave Criado Allen Guillen Neave Criado Allison Harless Noble Allison Harless Noble Allison Harless Noble Anchía Harris of Anderson Oliverson Anchía Harris of Anderson Oliverson Anchía Harris of Anderson Oliverson Anderson Harris of Williamson Ordaz Anderson Harris of Williamson Ordaz Anderson Harris of Williamson Ordaz Ashby Harrison Orr Ashby Harrison Orr Ashby Harrison Orr Bailes Hayes Ortega Bailes Hayes Ortega Bailes Hayes Ortega Bell of Kaufman Hefner Patterson Bell of Kaufman Hefner Patterson Bell of Kaufman Hefner Patterson Bell of Montgomery Hernandez Paul Bell of Montgomery Hernandez Paul Bell of Montgomery Hernandez Paul Bernal Herrero Perez Bernal Herrero Perez Bernal Herrero Perez Bhojani Hinojosa Plesa Bhojani Hinojosa Plesa Bhojani Hinojosa Plesa Bonnen Holland Price Bonnen Holland Price Bonnen Holland Price Bowers Howard Ramos Bowers Howard Ramos Bowers Howard Ramos Bryant Hull Raney Bryant Hull Raney Bryant Hull Raney Buckley Hunter Raymond Buckley Hunter Raymond Buckley Hunter Raymond Bucy Isaac Reynolds Bucy Isaac Reynolds Bucy Isaac Reynolds Bumgarner Jetton Rogers Bumgarner Jetton Rogers Bumgarner Jetton Rogers Burns Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr. Burns Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr. Burns Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr. Burrows A. Johnson of Harris Rose Burrows A. Johnson of Harris Rose Burrows A. Johnson of Harris Rose Button J. Johnson of Harris Rosenthal Button J. Johnson of Harris Rosenthal Button J. Johnson of Harris Rosenthal Cain Jones of Dallas Schaefer Cain Jones of Dallas Schaefer Cain Jones of Dallas Schaefer Campos Jones of Harris Schatzline Campos Jones of Harris Schatzline Campos Jones of Harris Schatzline Canales Kacal Schofield Canales Kacal Schofield Canales Kacal Schofield Capriglione King of Hemphill Shaheen Capriglione King of Hemphill Shaheen Capriglione King of Hemphill Shaheen Clardy King of Uvalde Sherman, Sr. Clardy King of Uvalde Sherman, Sr. Clardy King of Uvalde Sherman, Sr. Cole Kitzman Shine Cole Kitzman Shine Cole Kitzman Shine Collier Klick Slaton Collier Klick Slaton Collier Klick Slaton Cook Kuempel Slawson Cook Kuempel Slawson Cook Kuempel Slawson Cortez Lalani Smith Cortez Lalani Smith Cortez Lalani Smith Craddick Lambert Smithee Craddick Lambert Smithee Craddick Lambert Smithee Cunningham Landgraf Spiller Cunningham Landgraf Spiller Cunningham Landgraf Spiller Darby Leach Stucky Darby Leach Stucky Darby Leach Stucky Davis Leo-Wilson Swanson Davis Leo-Wilson Swanson Davis Leo-Wilson Swanson Dean Longoria Talarico Dean Longoria Talarico Dean Longoria Talarico DeAyala Lopez of Bexar Tepper DeAyala Lopez of Bexar Tepper DeAyala Lopez of Bexar Tepper Dorazio Lopez of Cameron Thierry Dorazio Lopez of Cameron Thierry Dorazio Lopez of Cameron Thierry Dutton Lozano Thimesch Dutton Lozano Thimesch Dutton Lozano Thimesch Flores Lujan Thompson of Brazoria Flores Lujan Thompson of Brazoria Flores Lujan Thompson of Brazoria Frank Manuel Thompson of Harris Frank Manuel Thompson of Harris Frank Manuel Thompson of Harris Frazier Martinez Tinderholt Frazier Martinez Tinderholt Frazier Martinez Tinderholt Gamez Martinez Fischer Toth Gamez Martinez Fischer Toth Gamez Martinez Fischer Toth Garcia Metcalf Troxclair Garcia Metcalf Troxclair Garcia Metcalf Troxclair Gates Meyer Turner Gates Meyer Turner Gates Meyer Turner Gerdes Meza VanDeaver Gerdes Meza VanDeaver Gerdes Meza VanDeaver Geren Moody Vasut Geren Moody Vasut Geren Moody Vasut Gervin-Hawkins Morales of Harris Vo Gervin-Hawkins Morales of Harris Vo Gervin-Hawkins Morales of Harris Vo Goldman Morales of Maverick Walle Goldman Morales of Maverick Walle Goldman Morales of Maverick Walle González of Dallas Morales Shaw Wilson González of Dallas Morales Shaw Wilson González of Dallas Morales Shaw Wilson González of El Paso Morrison Wu González of El Paso Morrison Wu González of El Paso Morrison Wu Goodwin Muñoz, Jr. Zwiener Goodwin Muñoz, Jr. Zwiener Goodwin Muñoz, Jr. Zwiener ______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 43 was adopted by the House on February 7, 2023, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House Phelan Guerra Murr Allen Guillen Neave Criado Allison Harless Noble Anchía Harris of Anderson Oliverson Anderson Harris of Williamson Ordaz Ashby Harrison Orr Bailes Hayes Ortega Bell of Kaufman Hefner Patterson Bell of Montgomery Hernandez Paul Bernal Herrero Perez Bhojani Hinojosa Plesa Bonnen Holland Price Bowers Howard Ramos Bryant Hull Raney Buckley Hunter Raymond Bucy Isaac Reynolds Bumgarner Jetton Rogers Burns Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr. Burrows A. Johnson of Harris Rose Button J. Johnson of Harris Rosenthal Cain Jones of Dallas Schaefer Campos Jones of Harris Schatzline Canales Kacal Schofield Capriglione King of Hemphill Shaheen Clardy King of Uvalde Sherman, Sr. Cole Kitzman Shine Collier Klick Slaton Cook Kuempel Slawson Cortez Lalani Smith Craddick Lambert Smithee Cunningham Landgraf Spiller Darby Leach Stucky Davis Leo-Wilson Swanson Dean Longoria Talarico DeAyala Lopez of Bexar Tepper Dorazio Lopez of Cameron Thierry Dutton Lozano Thimesch Flores Lujan Thompson of Brazoria Frank Manuel Thompson of Harris Frazier Martinez Tinderholt Gamez Martinez Fischer Toth Garcia Metcalf Troxclair Gates Meyer Turner Gerdes Meza VanDeaver Geren Moody Vasut Gervin-Hawkins Morales of Harris Vo Goldman Morales of Maverick Walle González of Dallas Morales Shaw Wilson González of El Paso Morrison Wu Goodwin Muñoz, Jr. Zwiener