R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, On May 5, 1997, Texans and many other Americans will
1-2 join their neighbors south of the Rio Grande in celebrating Cinco
1-3 de Mayo, one of the most prominent and festive holidays in Mexican
1-4 culture, and this date also provides a fitting opportunity to
1-5 recognize the 25th anniversary of the Mexican American Legislative
1-6 Caucus; and
1-7 WHEREAS, Cinco de Mayo commemorates the famed Battle of
1-8 Puebla; fought on May 5, 1862, the battle saw Texas-born General
1-9 Ignacio Zaragoza lead a small band of Mexican forces against
1-10 invading French troops; although the odds were clearly against
1-11 them, the Mexican soldiers prevailed, and this key victory united
1-12 the people of Mexico in their opposition to foreign domination and
1-13 control; and
1-14 WHEREAS, The history of the Mexican American Legislative
1-15 Caucus is similarly dramatic; it was established by eight members
1-16 in 1967 and was originally known as the Mexican American
1-17 Delegation; initially, the group met with stiff resistance, but
1-18 through teamwork, perseverance, and a strong belief that what they
1-19 were doing was right, they became an effective and powerful voice
1-20 for Texas' Hispanic citizens; and
1-21 WHEREAS, By 1973, the group had grown to include 17 members,
1-22 and the name was changed to the Mexican American Legislative
1-23 Caucus; today, the caucus has 33 members, including several
1-24 non-Hispanic legislators who represent districts with significant
2-1 Hispanic populations, and many of its members serve in powerful
2-2 positions as committee chairs and vice chairs; and
2-3 WHEREAS, This year's membership includes: Representatives Leo
2-4 Alvarado, Hugo Berlanga, Lon Burnam, Norma Chavez, Henry Cuellar,
2-5 Diana Davila, Harryette Ehrhardt, Jessica Farrar, Kino Flores, Pete
2-6 Gallego, Domingo Garcia, Roberto Gutierrez, Judy Hawley, Christine
2-7 Hernandez, Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa, Tracy O. King, John Longoria,
2-8 Vilma Luna, Ruth Jones McClendon, Paul Moreno, Rene Oliveira, Dora
2-9 Olivo, Joe Pickett, Robert Puente, Richard Raymond, Art Reyna,
2-10 Elvira Reyna, Alec Rhodes, Gilbert Serna, Jim Solis, Gerard Torres,
2-11 Leticia Van de Putte, and Miguel Wise; and
2-12 WHEREAS, With its rich history and colorful pageantry, Cinco
2-13 de Mayo celebrates one of the finest moments in Mexico's past, a
2-14 moment when a vastly outnumbered group of spirited individuals held
2-15 fast to their beliefs and saw the spirit of democracy triumph;
2-16 today, the members of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus are
2-17 carrying on this proud tradition, and they are helping to create a
2-18 brighter future for all Texans, regardless of their color; now,
2-19 therefore, be it
2-20 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 75th Texas
2-21 Legislature hereby commemorate both Cinco de Mayo and the 25th
2-22 anniversary of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus.
Berlanga Chavez
Wise Olivo
Garcia Burnam
King Luna
McClendon Solis
Van de Putte
Laney Gutierrez Oliveira
Alexander Haggerty Olivo
Allen Hamric Palmer
Alvarado Hartnett Patterson
Averitt Hawley Pickett
Bailey Heflin Pitts
Berlanga Hernandez Place
Bonnen Hightower Price
Bosse Hilbert Puente
Brimer Hilderbran Rabuck
Burnam Hill Ramsay
Carter Hinojosa Rangel
Chavez Hirschi Raymond
Chisum Hochberg Reyna of Bexar
Christian Hodge Reyna of Dallas
Clark Holzheauser Rhodes
Coleman Horn Rodriguez
Cook Howard Roman
Corte Hunter Sadler
Counts Hupp Seaman
Crabb Isett Serna
Craddick Jackson Shields
Cuellar Janek Siebert
Culberson Jones of Lubbock Smith
Danburg Jones of Dallas Smithee
Davila Junell Solis
Davis Kamel Solomons
Delisi Keel Staples
Denny Keffer Stiles
Driver King Swinford
Dukes Krusee Talton
Dunnam Kubiak Telford
Dutton Kuempel Thompson
Edwards Lewis of Tarrant Tillery
Ehrhardt Lewis of Orange Torres
Eiland Longoria Turner of Coleman
Elkins Luna Turner of Harris
Farrar McCall Uher
Finnell McClendon Van de Putte
Flores McReynolds Walker
Gallego Madden West
Galloway Marchant Williams
Garcia Maxey Williamson
Giddings Merritt Wilson
Glaze Moffat Wise
Goodman Moreno Wohlgemuth
Goolsby Mowery Wolens
Gray Naishtat Woolley
Greenberg Nixon Yarbrough
Grusendorf Oakley Zbranek
_______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 814 was adopted by the House on May
5, 1997, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House