By Alonzo H.R. No. 1113
74R14094 BNL-F
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.