By Chavez                                              H.R. No. 649

         75R10934 WMS-F                           

                                 R E S O L U T I O N

 1-1           WHEREAS, It has long been 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 table grapes, Red Coach lettuce, and

2-27     Gallo wines, California agricultural producers were forced to

 3-1     support the state's historic 1975 collective bargaining law that

 3-2     extended labor 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 political activist Jose Angel Gutierrez, and political

3-11     columnist Carlos Guerra; and

3-12           WHEREAS, Mr. Chavez's inspirational leadership, unwavering

3-13     commitment, and courageous personal sacrifices have helped American

3-14     farm workers earn decent wages and attain improved working

3-15     conditions, medical benefits, and protection from dangerous

3-16     pesticides; and

3-17           WHEREAS, In recognition of his ability to find solutions to

3-18     our country's most pressing social and economic problems through

3-19     nonviolent means, Mr. Chavez was posthumously awarded the nation's

3-20     highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, on

3-21     August 8, 1994; and

3-22           WHEREAS, Few people have had so profound an effect on society

3-23     as Cesar Chavez, thus it is indeed appropriate to reflect on the

3-24     legacy of this true American hero and to look forward to a future

3-25     in which agricultural workers are given the recognition and support

3-26     they deserve for performing one of our society's most important

3-27     roles; now, therefore, be it

 4-1           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas

 4-2     Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life and work of Cesar Chavez

 4-3     on the fourth anniversary of his death; and, be it further

 4-4           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be

 4-5     prepared for the family of Mr. Chavez as an expression of support

 4-6     and highest regard by the Texas House of Representatives.