By Hinojosa                                           H.R. No. 1441
         77R18218 MJS-F                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The Texas chapter of the American Civil Liberties
 1-2     Union, the Texas chapter of the National Council of La Raza, the
 1-3     Texas chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of
 1-4     Colored People, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education
 1-5     Fund, and the League of United Latin American Citizens have
 1-6     organized to advance and defend the interests of Texas' citizens;
 1-7     and
 1-8           WHEREAS, These organizations have worked tirelessly to
 1-9     promote the cause of interethnic accommodation and racial harmony;
1-10     and
1-11           WHEREAS, They have passionately advocated the advancement of
1-12     civil rights and have vigorously pursued the enactment of
1-13     protections against undue encroachment on individual liberties; and
1-14           WHEREAS, They have used their considerable collective
1-15     intelligence, passion, dedication, and vision to ensure that all
1-16     persons receive equal protection under the law; and
1-17           WHEREAS, They have successfully advanced these goals through
1-18     legislation that manifests these noble ideals; and
1-19           WHEREAS, Such legislation includes prohibiting racial
1-20     profiling, banning the execution of the mentally retarded,
1-21     providing an adequate defense to indigent defendants, prohibiting
1-22     the use of race as a predictor of future danger to society,
1-23     requiring the corroboration of informants' testimony in
1-24     drug-related criminal trials and other police accountability
 2-1     measures, asset forfeiture reform, providing access to DNA evidence
 2-2     that could exonerate the falsely accused, government openness
 2-3     initiatives, and harsher penalties for those convicted of hate
 2-4     crimes; now, therefore, be it
 2-5           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
 2-6     Legislature hereby heartily commend these groups for their valiant
 2-7     efforts on behalf of racial harmony, individual liberties, and
 2-8     civil rights in Texas; and, be it further
 2-9           RESOLVED, That appreciation be extended to these groups and
2-10     that they be urged to continue their collaborative efforts to
2-11     implement and make manifest the noble ideals embodied in the
2-12     constitutions of both Texas and the United States of America; and,
2-13     be it further
2-14           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-15     prepared for the organizations as an expression of high regard by
2-16     the Texas House of Representatives.