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 in
1-3 anticipation 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 subjected 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
1-24 WHEREAS, After serving as the director of the Community
2-1 Service Organization, he left the group in 1962, moved with his
2-2 wife and eight children back to Delano, and founded the National
2-3 Farm Workers Association with the goal of improving conditions for
2-4 migrant workers; and
2-5 WHEREAS, In 1965, Cesar's association voted to join a strike
2-6 against the Delano area grape growers; the strike had been
2-7 initiated by the AFL-CIO's Agricultural Workers Organizing
2-8 Committee; the two groups united to form the United Farm Workers of
2-9 America, and under Cesar's able leadership, the organization
2-10 sustained a five-year strike and boycott that rallied the support
2-11 of labor unions, churches, students, and minority groups throughout
2-12 the country; and
2-13 WHEREAS, By 1970, the boycott had forced most table grape
2-14 producers to sign contracts with the United Farm Workers, but in
2-15 1973, most growers tried to undermine the power of the organization
2-16 by signing new contracts, thus sparking the largest farm labor
2-17 strike in our country's history; and
2-18 WHEREAS, The boycott gained momentum and the support of
2-19 nearly 17 million Americans, and eventually California agricultural
2-20 producers were forced to support the state's historic 1975
2-21 collective bargaining law that extended labor union protection to
2-22 farm workers; and
2-23 WHEREAS, The United Farm Workers succeeded in making
2-24 accomplishments of enormous historical significance; the
2-25 organization was responsible for establishing the first
2-26 comprehensive union health benefits for farm workers and their
2-27 families, the first functioning credit union for farm workers, and
3-1 the first union contracts requiring rest periods, clean drinking
3-2 water, and protective clothing against pesticide exposure; and
3-3 WHEREAS, Cesar Chavez used nonviolent tactics in pursuit of
3-4 his causes and gave tirelessly of his time to the plight of farm
3-5 workers; his efforts gave rise to La Causa and became a vital part
3-6 of the national quest for Mexican American equality and justice;
3-7 through incredible perseverance and sacrifice, including his
3-8 well-known lengthy fasts, Cesar Chavez accomplished his goals and
3-9 became not only a champion of the farm worker, but also a champion
3-10 of the civil rights movement in our country; and
3-11 WHEREAS, Cesar Chavez was the 1991 recipient of the Aguila
3-12 Azteca Award, the highest award Mexico can bestow on a person of
3-13 Mexican heritage; after his death in 1993, his widow, Helen Chavez,
3-14 accepted the Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian honor,
3-15 for her late husband at a White House ceremony in 1994; President
3-16 Bill Clinton lauded Cesar Chavez for having "faced formidable,
3-17 often violent opposition with dignity and nonviolence"; and
3-18 WHEREAS, A true hero whose courage and determination served
3-19 as an inspiration to millions of people throughout the world, Cesar
3-20 Chavez left an indelible imprint on our country and on the lives of
3-21 its citizens, and the schools of America should continue to educate
3-22 our children about the life of this great man and his many
3-23 accomplishments; and
3-24 WHEREAS, In 1999, the 76th Texas Legislature adopted S.B. 107
3-25 creating an optional state holiday in Texas to commemorate the life
3-26 of a great American, Cesar Chavez; now, therefore, be it
3-27 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
4-1 Legislature hereby celebrate the remarkable life of Cesar Chavez
4-2 and his invaluable contributions to our country and encourage all
4-3 Texans to show appreciation for his achievements on Cesar Chavez
4-4 Day.
Gallego
Chavez
_______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 640 was adopted by the House on March
29, 2001, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House