By Chavez H.C.R. No. 132
77R5947 JXC-D
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1-1 WHEREAS, Cesar Chavez's ideal of nonviolent activism as shown
1-2 through his lifetime commitment to the rights of U.S. farmworkers
1-3 has led to a national regard for him as a great leader and
1-4 motivator; his contributions to the nation's attitude toward social
1-5 justice make him a role model for many; and
1-6 WHEREAS, Mr. Chavez's perseverence as a farmworker during his
1-7 youth, his patriotism during his period of active duty in the U.S.
1-8 Navy, and his service to underrepresented communities through the
1-9 organization of voting drives beginning in the 1950s all
1-10 contributed to a sensitive social consciousness that manifested
1-11 itself in his unending efforts for the rights of others; and
1-12 WHEREAS, Mr. Chavez acted out his beliefs in his founding of
1-13 the National Farm Workers Association in 1962, which merged with
1-14 the AFL-CIO's Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee in 1966 to
1-15 form the United Farm Workers of America, a unified organization
1-16 that came to be renowned for its success in gaining recognition for
1-17 workers' rights; and
1-18 WHEREAS, The United Farm Workers of America, under the
1-19 leadership of Mr. Chavez, brought together the diverse interests of
1-20 labor unions, churches, and student, minority, and consumer groups
1-21 to focus on mobilization around common issues of equality and
1-22 justice; the organization became particularly well-known for its
1-23 participation in the California grape boycott of the 1960s and
1-24 1970s, a watershed event that gained the support of more than 17
2-1 million Americans and contributed to the establishment of the
2-2 movement still known today as "La Causa"; and
2-3 WHEREAS, The death of Cesar Chavez in 1993 was a profound
2-4 loss to the communities he tirelessly served and to an entire
2-5 nation that participated in his boycotts, knew about his peaceful
2-6 protests for farmworkers' rights, and both saw his image and heard
2-7 his name countless times; in a tribute indicative of the impact he
2-8 had made on American society, more than 50,000 people mourned him
2-9 at his funeral in California; and
2-10 WHEREAS, Since his death, Mr. Chavez's memory has been
2-11 honored with the naming of numerous schools, streets, scholarships,
2-12 monuments, buildings, and parks for him; a number of U.S. cities
2-13 have annual celebrations in honor of Mr. Chavez, and several
2-14 states, including Texas, have declared his birthday, March 31, a
2-15 state holiday; in 1994, Mr. Chavez was awarded the nation's highest
2-16 civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom; and
2-17 WHEREAS, It is indeed fitting that Mr. Chavez receive formal
2-18 recognition on a national level; his humanitarian pursuits have
2-19 earned him the highest respect from an impressive diversity of
2-20 groups and interests; as a leader, he provides an outstanding
2-21 example of commitment to and the exercise of one's beliefs; as a
2-22 Latino, he provides an admirable example to the nation's
2-23 fastest-growing demographic group; now, therefore, be it
2-24 RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas
2-25 hereby respectfully urge the Congress of the United States to enact
2-26 legislation designating March 31 as a national holiday honoring
2-27 Cesar Chavez; and, be it further
3-1 RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official
3-2 copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to
3-3 the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of
3-4 the senate of the United States Congress, and to all the members of
3-5 the Texas delegation to the congress with the request that this
3-6 resolution be officially entered in the Congressional Record as a
3-7 memorial to the Congress of the United States of America.