1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 595 1-3 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes pride in 1-4 paying tribute to the life of Cesar Chavez on the occasion of 1-5 Cesar Chavez Day on March 31, 2001; and 1-6 WHEREAS, Born March 31, 1927, near Yuma, Arizona, Cesar Chavez 1-7 grew up in a hardworking family of farmers, living first in Arizona 1-8 and then moving to California to work in the fields; he learned 1-9 about injustice at an early age and was subject to discrimination 1-10 throughout much of his childhood; Cesar and his brother attended 37 1-11 schools while traveling with their family from farm to farm, and in 1-12 1942, Cesar graduated from the eighth grade and became a migrant 1-13 farm worker; and 1-14 WHEREAS, In 1944, at the age of 17, Cesar joined the 1-15 United States Navy and served his country with distinction for 1-16 two years; he married Helen Fabela in 1948, and after living for 1-17 a while in Delano, the couple settled in San Jose, where Cesar 1-18 worked in apricot orchards and was influenced by Fred Ross, who 1-19 was head of the Community Service Organization; and 1-20 WHEREAS, Cesar quickly became an active leader in the 1-21 Community Service Organization; he organized voter registration 1-22 drives in the Mexican American community and formed new chapters 2-1 of the organization throughout California and Arizona; he helped 2-2 the organization to become the most effective Latino civil rights 2-3 group of its time; and 2-4 WHEREAS, After serving as the director of the Community 2-5 Service Organization, he left the group in 1962, moved with his 2-6 wife and eight children back to Delano, and founded the National 2-7 Farm Workers Association with the goal of improving conditions 2-8 for migrant workers; and 2-9 WHEREAS, In 1965, Cesar's association voted to join a 2-10 strike against the Delano area grape growers; the strike had 2-11 been initiated by the AFL-CIO's Agricultural Workers Organizing 2-12 Committee; the two groups united to form the United Farm Workers 2-13 of America, and under Cesar's able leadership, the organization 2-14 sustained a five-year strike and boycott that rallied the support 2-15 of labor unions, churches, students, and minority groups throughout 2-16 the country; and 2-17 WHEREAS, By 1970, the boycott had forced most table grape 2-18 producers to sign contracts with the United Farm Workers, but in 2-19 1973, most growers tried to undermine the power of the organization 2-20 by signing new contracts, thus sparking the largest farm labor 2-21 strike in our country's history; and 2-22 WHEREAS, The boycott gained momentum and the support 2-23 of nearly 17 million Americans, and eventually, California 2-24 agricultural producers were forced to support the state's 3-1 historic 1975 collective bargaining law that extended labor 3-2 union protection to farm workers; and 3-3 WHEREAS, The California grape growers continued for years 3-4 to refuse to honor contract agreements until November, 2000, 3-5 when the boycott against California table grapes was concluded, 3-6 bringing a successful end to the boycott begun by Cesar Chavez; 3-7 and 3-8 WHEREAS, The United Farm Workers succeeded in making 3-9 accomplishments of enormous historical significance; it was 3-10 responsible for establishing the first comprehensive union 3-11 health benefits for farm workers and their families, the first 3-12 functioning credit union for farm workers, and the first union 3-13 contracts requiring rest periods, clean drinking water, and 3-14 protective clothing against pesticide exposure; and 3-15 WHEREAS, Cesar Chavez used nonviolent tactics in pursuit of 3-16 his causes and gave tirelessly of his time to the plight of farm 3-17 workers; his efforts gave rise to La Causa and became a vital 3-18 part of the national quest for Mexican American equality and 3-19 justice; through incredible perseverance and sacrifices, including 3-20 his well-known lengthy fasts, Cesar Chavez accomplished his goals 3-21 and became not only a champion of the farm worker, but also a 3-22 champion of the civil rights movement in our country; he inspired 3-23 the farm workers with his motto "Si Se Puede!"; and 3-24 WHEREAS, Cesar Chavez was the 1991 recipient of the Aguila 4-1 Azteca Award, the highest award Mexico can bestow on a person 4-2 of Mexican heritage; after his death in 1993, his widow, 4-3 Helen Chavez, accepted the Medal of Freedom, America's highest 4-4 civilian honor, for her late husband at a White House ceremony 4-5 in 1994; President Bill Clinton lauded Cesar Chavez for having 4-6 "faced formidable, often violent opposition with dignity and 4-7 nonviolence"; and 4-8 WHEREAS, A true hero whose courage and determination 4-9 served as an inspiration to millions of people throughout the 4-10 world, Cesar Chavez left an indelible imprint on our country and 4-11 on the lives of its citizens, and the schools of America should 4-12 continue to educate our children about the life of this great 4-13 man and his many accomplishments; and 4-14 WHEREAS, In 1999 the 76th Legislature adopted SB107 creating 4-15 a State Optional Holiday in Texas in memory and to commemorate the 4-16 life of a great American, Cesar Chavez; now, therefore, be it 4-17 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 4-18 77th Legislature, hereby celebrate the remarkable life of 4-19 Cesar Chavez and his invaluable contributions to our country and 4-20 encourage all Texans to show appreciation for his achievements 4-21 on Cesar Chavez Day; and, be it further 4-22 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in honor 4-23 of the birthday of Cesar Chavez and as an expression of esteem from 4-24 the Texas Senate. 5-1 Truan 5-2 Armbrister Gallegos Ogden 5-3 Barrientos Harris Shapiro 5-4 Bernsen Haywood Shapleigh 5-5 Bivins Jackson Sibley 5-6 Brown Lindsay Staples 5-7 Cain Lucio Van de Putte 5-8 Carona Madla Wentworth 5-9 Duncan Moncrief West 5-10 Ellis Nelson Whitmire 5-11 Fraser Zaffirini 5-12 Ratliff, President of the Senate 5-13 ______________________________________ 5-14 President of the Senate 5-15 I hereby certify that the above 5-16 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 5-17 on March 28, 2001. 5-18 ______________________________________ 5-19 Secretary of the Senate 5-20 ______________________________________ 5-21 Dean of the Senate