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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Honorable Kika de la Garza and his wife, Lucille |
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de la Garza, have been selected to receive the Golden Eagle Award |
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from the McAllen Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in recognition of |
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their many significant contributions to the benefit of their fellow |
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citizens; and |
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WHEREAS, The first couple to jointly receive this award, the |
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de la Garzas are highly regarded for their efforts in support of |
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their community, most notably through Congressman de la Garza's |
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dedicated public service as a longtime member of the Texas and U.S. |
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House of Representatives and through Mrs. de la Garza's myriad |
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civic endeavors; and |
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WHEREAS, Congressman and Mrs. de la Garza both hail from the |
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Rio Grande Valley, he from Mercedes and she from Edinburg, and they |
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continue to make their home in the Valley today as residents of |
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McAllen; reminders of the respect and admiration felt for the de la |
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Garzas abound, including such namesakes as the Kika de la Garza |
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Border Crossing Station, Lucy's Garden at the Butterfly Gardens in |
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Mission, and the Kika de la Garza Federal Building in McAllen; and |
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WHEREAS, A 12-year member of the Texas House of |
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Representatives and a 32-year member of the United States Congress, |
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Congressman de la Garza cofounded the Congressional Hispanic Caucus |
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and was a driving force for positive change during his legislative |
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tenure, and he has rendered invaluable service to this state and |
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nation as an expert in national and international law as it relates |
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to agriculture and commerce; his extensive list of honors includes |
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distinguished service awards from Texas A&M University and the |
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American Farm Bureau Federation, the Lifetime Achievement Award |
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from Hispanic Farmers and Ranchers, and the Order of the Aztec |
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Eagle, Mexico's highest honor for foreigners; and |
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WHEREAS, Mrs. de la Garza has deep roots in the Valley, |
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descending from a long line of area Democrats and regional |
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pioneers; named Distinguished Democrat of the Year for 2002 by the |
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Hidalgo County Democratic Party, she currently serves on the |
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Advisory Board for the North American Butterfly Association and |
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Lucy's Garden; honored as the first Mother of the Year by AVANCE-Rio |
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Grande Valley, she joins former First Lady Barbara Bush as one of |
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only two people to have christened two U.S. Navy vessels; and |
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WHEREAS, Congressman and Mrs. de la Garza have earned the |
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esteem of countless people in Texas and beyond through their civic, |
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charitable, and political efforts, and their selection as |
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recipients of the McAllen Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Golden Eagle |
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Award is indeed well-deserved; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate the Honorable Kika de la Garza and |
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Lucille de la Garza on their receipt of the Golden Eagle Award from |
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the McAllen Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and commend the de la |
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Garzas for their extensive contributions to residents of the Rio |
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Grande Valley and the Lone Star State; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the de la Garzas as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |