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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The year 2007 marks the 87th anniversary of the |
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founding of the League of Women Voters of the Houston Area, and the |
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occasion provides an opportunity to pay tribute to this notable |
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organization; and |
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WHEREAS, Established in 1920, the same year that the national |
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organization was formed, the League of Women Voters of the Houston |
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Area has faithfully carried forth the mission laid out by its |
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farsighted founders; a nonpartisan political organization, it |
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encourages informed and active participation in government, works |
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to increase the understanding of major public policy issues, and |
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influences public policy through education and advocacy; and |
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WHEREAS, The organization was formed as the women's suffrage |
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movement was closing in on its goal of giving the female citizens of |
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the United States the right to vote; a League of Women Voters was |
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first proposed in 1919 by Carrie Chapman Catt, president of the |
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National American Woman Suffrage Association, and though rooted in |
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the suffrage movement, the league's activities and information |
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proved equally valuable to male citizens; since the beginning, the |
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League of Women Voters has refused to endorse or oppose any |
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candidate or political party, and it has become recognized as a |
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valuable and unbiased promoter of the democratic process; and |
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WHEREAS, Like other leagues across the country, the Houston |
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area organization publishes a voters guide prior to elections that |
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compiles each candidate's positions on ballot issues, and it shares |
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information via a citizens information telephone line; following |
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each election, the organization updates and revises its Voters Key, |
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which lists all elected officials that serve Houston and Harris |
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County; and |
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WHEREAS, The League of Women Voters of the Houston Area also |
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sponsors voter-registration campaigns and promotes child |
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immunization programs and other health care activities; as an |
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advocacy group, it works to ensure clean air and water and to |
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provide better access to public transportation and low-cost |
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housing; in addition, the league fosters community dialog on other |
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important issues, including education and race relations, and |
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sponsors studies and publications on local schools and government; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Serving as a guiding light for all who believe that |
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the strength of a democracy rests with its citizens, the League of |
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Women Voters of the Houston Area continues to encourage good |
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citizenship, good government, and good public policy, and its |
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steadfast efforts for more than eight decades have been of immense |
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benefit to the residents of southeastern Texas; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate the League of Women Voters of the |
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Houston Area on the 87th anniversary of its founding and commend the |
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league's members for their valuable work; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the organization as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |
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Dutton |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 677 was adopted by the House on March |
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19, 2007, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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