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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Honorable Judith Zaffirini has greatly |
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benefited her fellow citizens through her decades of distinguished |
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service in the Texas Senate; and |
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WHEREAS, The first Hispanic woman to serve in the chamber, |
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Senator Zaffirini initially took office in 1987 and has represented |
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the constituents of the 21st District for more than 36 years; |
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throughout her tenure, she has never missed a vote, and in May 2023, |
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she cast the 70,000th consecutive vote of her career, a feat that is |
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unmatched both in Texas and nationwide; in addition, she has passed |
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more bills than any other legislator in the history of the Texas |
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Legislature; and |
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WHEREAS, Senator Zaffirini is currently vice chair of the |
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Senate Natural Resources and Economic Development Committee, and |
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over the years, she has undertaken numerous other committee |
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assignments, including chairing the Government Organization and |
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Higher Education Committees and holding the office of vice chair |
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for the Finance, Education, and Agriculture, Water, and Rural |
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Affairs Committees, to name but a few of her leadership roles; a |
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prominent voice in energy policy, she has served as chair of the |
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Eagle Ford Shale Legislative Caucus and as a longtime member of the |
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Energy Council; and |
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WHEREAS, Among her many accolades, Senator Zaffirini was |
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inducted into the Texas Women's Hall of Fame by Governor Greg Abbott |
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in 2018, and she is the recipient of more than 1,000 awards for her |
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professional and public service accomplishments; moreover, a |
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number of buildings, grant programs, and scholarships at |
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educational institutions across the state have been named in her |
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honor; and |
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WHEREAS, Senator Zaffirini has enjoyed a rewarding career as |
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a communications specialist, and she operates her own business, |
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Zaffirini Communications; she has excelled as an educator as well |
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and draws on many years of teaching experience, including at the |
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college and university level; active in her community and |
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profession, she is a member of such organizations as the |
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Philosophical Society of Texas, the International Communication |
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Association, and the Association for Borderland Studies, and she |
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has served as president of the Mr. South Texas Foundation and the |
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D&J Alexander Foundation; she holds bachelor's, master's, and |
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doctoral degrees from The University of Texas at Austin; and |
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WHEREAS, Senator Judith Zaffirini has gained the respect and |
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admiration of her colleagues and constituents alike for her |
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outstanding leadership and work ethic, and her achievements stand |
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as an inspiring example of dedicated public service; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize Senator Judith Zaffirini for her |
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exceptional work as a state legislator and extend to her sincere |
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best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Senator Zaffirini as an expression of high regard by |
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the Texas House of Representatives. |