By Chavez H.R. No. 639
Line and page numbers may not match official copy.
Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The House of Representatives of the State of Texas
1-2 takes pride in paying tribute to the life of Cesar Chavez on the
1-3 occasion of Cesar Chavez Day on March 31, 2001; and
1-4 WHEREAS, Born March 31, 1927, near Yuma, Arizona, Cesar
1-5 Chavez grew up in a hardworking family of farmers, living first in
1-6 Arizona and then moving to California to work in the fields; he
1-7 learned about injustice at an early age and was subject to
1-8 discrimination throughout much of his childhood; Cesar and his
1-9 brother attended 37 schools while traveling with their family from
1-10 farm to farm, and in 1942, Cesar graduated from the eighth grade
1-11 and became a migrant farm worker; and
1-12 WHEREAS, In 1944, at the age of 17, Cesar joined the United
1-13 States Navy and served his country with distinction for two years;
1-14 he married Helen Fabela in 1948, and after living for a while in
1-15 Delano, the couple settled in San Jose, where Cesar worked in
1-16 apricot orchards and was influenced by Fred Ross, who was head of
1-17 the Community Service Organization; and
1-18 WHEREAS, Cesar quickly became an active leader in the
1-19 Community Service Organization; he organized voter registration
1-20 drives in the Mexican American community and formed new chapters of
1-21 the organization throughout California and Arizona; he helped the
1-22 organization to become the most effective Latino civil rights group
1-23 of its time; and
2-1 WHEREAS, After serving as the director of the Community
2-2 Service Organization, he left the group in 1962, moved with his
2-3 wife and eight children back to Delano, and founded the National
2-4 Farm Workers Association with the goal of improving conditions for
2-5 migrant workers; and
2-6 WHEREAS, In 1965, Cesar's association voted to join a strike
2-7 against the Delano area grape growers; the strike had been
2-8 initiated by the AFL-CIO's Agricultural Workers Organizing
2-9 Committee; the two groups united to form the United Farm Workers of
2-10 America, and under Cesar's able leadership, the organization
2-11 sustained a five-year strike and boycott that rallied the support
2-12 of labor unions, churches, students, and minority groups throughout
2-13 the country; and
2-14 WHEREAS, By 1970, the boycott had forced most table grape
2-15 producers to sign contracts with the United Farm Workers, but in
2-16 1973, most growers tried to undermine the power of the organization
2-17 by signing new contracts, thus sparking the largest farm labor
2-18 strike in our country's history; and
2-19 WHEREAS, The boycott gained momentum and the support of
2-20 nearly 17 million Americans, and eventually, California
2-21 agricultural producers were forced to support the state's historic
2-22 1975 collective bargaining law that extended labor union protection
2-23 to farm workers; and
2-24 WHEREAS, The California grape growers continued for years to
2-25 refuse to honor contract agreements until November, 2000, when the
2-26 boycott against California table grapes was concluded, bringing a
3-1 successful end to the boycott begun by Cesar Chavez; and
3-2 WHEREAS, The United Farm Workers succeeded in making
3-3 accomplishments of enormous historical significance; it was
3-4 responsible for establishing the first comprehensive union health
3-5 benefits for farm workers and their families, the first functioning
3-6 credit union for farm workers, and the first union contracts
3-7 requiring rest periods, clean drinking water, and protective
3-8 clothing against pesticide exposure; and
3-9 WHEREAS, Cesar Chavez used nonviolent tactics in pursuit of
3-10 his causes and gave tirelessly of his time to the plight of farm
3-11 workers; his efforts gave rise to La Causa and became a vital part
3-12 of the national quest for Mexican American equality and justice;
3-13 through incredible perseverance and sacrifices, including his
3-14 well-known lengthy fasts, Cesar Chavez accomplished his goals and
3-15 became not only a champion of the farm worker, but also a champion
3-16 of the civil rights movement in our country; he inspired the farm
3-17 workers with his motto "Si Se Puede!"; and
3-18 WHEREAS, Cesar Chavez was the 1991 recipient of the Aguila
3-19 Azteca Award, the highest award Mexico can bestow on a person of
3-20 Mexican heritage; after his death in 1993, his widow, Helen Chavez,
3-21 accepted the Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honor,
3-22 for her late husband at a White House ceremony in 1994; President
3-23 Bill Clinton lauded Cesar Chavez for having "faced formidable,
3-24 often violent opposition with dignity and nonviolence"; and
3-25 WHEREAS, A true hero whose courage and determination served
3-26 as an inspiration to millions of people throughout the world, Cesar
4-1 Chavez left an indelible imprint on our country and on the lives of
4-2 its citizens, and the schools of America should continue to educate
4-3 our children about the life of this great man and his many
4-4 accomplishments; and
4-5 WHEREAS, In 1999, the 76th Legislature adopted S.B. 107
4-6 creating a State Optional Holiday in Texas in memory and to
4-7 commemorate the life of a great American, Cesar Chavez; now,
4-8 therefore, be it
4-9 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 77th
4-10 Legislature, hereby celebrate the remarkable life of Cesar Chavez
4-11 and his invaluable contributions to our country and encourage all
4-12 Texans to show appreciation for his achievements on Cesar Chavez
4-13 Day; and, be it further
4-14 RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared in honor
4-15 of the birthday of Cesar Chavez and as an expression of esteem from
4-16 the Texas Senate.