89R13883 KRT-D
By: Howard H.R. No. 236
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The family and friends of Cecile Richards, who
passed away on January 20, 2025, at the age of 67, may find comfort
in reflecting on her remarkable life's journey; and
WHEREAS, Born in Waco on July 15, 1957, Cecile Richards was
the daughter of Ann Richards, who later served as the governor of
Texas, and David Richards, a civil rights attorney; following in
her parents' footsteps, she took up political activism while still
a teenager and was disciplined by her high school for protesting the
Vietnam War; after earning her degree from Brown University in
1980, she became a labor organizer; she later founded the Texas
Freedom Network, a progressive grassroots organization, and served
as deputy chief of staff to U.S. Representative Nancy Pelosi; and
WHEREAS, In 2006, Ms. Richards was appointed president of the
Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and she also served as
president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund; in those roles,
she became one of the leading voices in the debate over reproductive
health, and throughout her 12-year tenure, she valiantly upheld the
importance of the organization's services and defended the rights
of the women and families that it served; and
WHEREAS, After concluding her service with Planned
Parenthood in 2018, Ms. Richards founded Supermajority, an
organization dedicated to encouraging more women to enter politics,
and published a memoir, Make Trouble: Standing Up, Speaking Out,
and Finding the Courage to Lead; in 2024, she was presented with a
Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor,
by President Joe Biden; she is survived by her husband, Kirk Adams,
her children, Lily, Hannah, and Daniel, a grandchild, and her
siblings, Ellen, Clark, and Dan Richards; and
WHEREAS, Though it is impossible to gauge the full effect of
one person's life, some individuals leave their unmistakable mark
on the world as they move through it, and the exceptional
contributions of Cecile Richards will continue to resonate for
years to come; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Cecile Richards and
extend sincere condolences to all who mourn her passing; and, be it
further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of
Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Cecile
Richards.