H.R. No. 1113 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, It is the custom of the Texas House of 1-2 Representatives to honor exceptional individuals who have made this 1-3 world a better place in which to live, work, and raise a family; 1-4 and 1-5 WHEREAS, Cesar Chavez, who died on April 23, 1993, was one 1-6 such person whose legacy will continue to live on for generations 1-7 of Texans; and 1-8 WHEREAS, The founder and leader of the first successful farm 1-9 workers union in the United States, Mr. Chavez was born near Yuma, 1-10 Arizona, on March 31, 1927, to a farming family that lost its land 1-11 during the Great Depression; as a small child, he experienced the 1-12 harsh working conditions and crushing despair that characterize the 1-13 lives of many of this country's migrant workers; and 1-14 WHEREAS, At the tender age of 10, Mr. Chavez began traveling 1-15 with his family from farm to farm throughout the Southwest and left 1-16 school after completing the eighth grade so he could join his 1-17 parents and siblings in the harvesting of row crops, grapes, and 1-18 tree fruits; and 1-19 WHEREAS, During World War II, this patriotic American 1-20 answered his nation's call to arms and served with honor and 1-21 distinction as a member of the United States Navy; on his return to 1-22 civilian life, he met Helen Fabela while working in the vineyards 1-23 of Delano, California, and the couple soon married and settled in 1-24 San Jose; and 2-1 WHEREAS, While working in the nearby apricot orchards, 2-2 Mr. Chavez became involved with the Community Service Organization 2-3 and began coordinating voter registration drives in the 2-4 Mexican-American community and forming new chapters of the 2-5 organization throughout the states of California and Arizona; and 2-6 WHEREAS, He served as the group's national director during 2-7 the late 1950s and early 1960s, leaving the position in 1962 to 2-8 found the National Farm Workers Association, an organization that 2-9 soon grew to include more than 1,000 member families; in 1965, the 2-10 association joined with the AFL-CIO's Agricultural Workers 2-11 Organizing Committee in a strike against Delano grape growers that 2-12 was the first of many peaceful attempts to secure improved working 2-13 conditions for farm laborers; and 2-14 WHEREAS, One year later, the two groups merged to form the 2-15 United Farm Workers of America (UFW), and the able leadership of 2-16 Mr. Chavez sustained the organization through a five-year strike 2-17 and boycott that rallied the support of labor unions, churches, and 2-18 student, minority, and consumer groups throughout the country; and 2-19 WHEREAS, By 1970, the boycott had forced most table grape 2-20 producers to sign contracts with the United Farm Workers, an 2-21 affiliate of the AFL-CIO, but in 1973, most growers attempted to 2-22 undermine the power of the organization by signing new contracts 2-23 with the teamsters union, sparking the largest farm labor strike in 2-24 the history of the United States; and 2-25 WHEREAS, With nearly 17 million Americans honoring the 2-26 UFW-led boycott of California grapes, lettuce, and Gallo wines, 2-27 California agricultural producers were forced to support the 3-1 state's historic 1975 collective bargaining law that extended labor 3-2 union protection to farm workers; and 3-3 WHEREAS, His dedicated efforts were part of a national quest 3-4 for Mexican-American equality and justice that became known as "La 3-5 Causa," and effects from that movement are still being felt today; 3-6 many of the idealistic young people who joined his movement nearly 3-7 three decades ago have become prominent and respected leaders in 3-8 our state, including Senator Gonzalo Barrientos, Southwest Voter 3-9 Education Project founder Willy Velasquez, La Raza Unida founder 3-10 and former U.S. Senate candidate Jose Angel Gutierrez, and 3-11 political columnist Carlos Guerra; and 3-12 WHEREAS, Mr. Chavez's inspired leadership, unwavering 3-13 commitment, and courageous personal sacrifices have helped American 3-14 farm workers earn decent wages, medical benefits, and protection 3-15 from dangerous pesticides; and 3-16 WHEREAS, In recognition for his ability to find solutions to 3-17 our country's most pressing social and economic problems through 3-18 nonviolent means, Mr. Chavez was posthumously awarded the nation's 3-19 highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, on 3-20 August 8, 1994; and 3-21 WHEREAS, Now, as we commemorate the 69th anniversary of his 3-22 birth, it is indeed an appropriate time to reflect on the legacy of 3-23 this true American hero and to look forward to a future in which 3-24 agricultural workers are given the recognition and support they 3-25 deserve for performing one of our society's most important roles; 3-26 now, therefore, be it 3-27 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 4-1 Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life and work of Cesar 4-2 Chavez; and, be it further 4-3 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 4-4 prepared for the family of Mr. Chavez as an expression of support 4-5 and highest regard by the Texas House of Representatives.