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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Demonstrating a thirst for knowledge and an |
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unflagging determination to succeed, Geronimo Rodriguez, Jr., went |
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from picking fruit as a migrant farm worker to helping select |
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President Clinton's cabinet as a member of the White House staff; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Growing up, this Hidalgo County native spent eight |
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months a year traveling from the Rio Grande Valley to the |
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Northwestern United States, harvesting seasonal crops with his |
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parents; he became the first person in his family to earn a high |
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school diploma, graduating near the top of his class, and received a |
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College Assistance Migrant Program scholarship to St. Edward's |
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University in Austin, where he achieved another first in his family |
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in 1990 when he graduated from college; following his instincts for |
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law and politics, he took a job with the Texas Attorney General, and |
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in 1991 became the state field director for Bill Clinton's first |
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presidential campaign; and |
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WHEREAS, A few years later, after earning a law degree from |
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The University of Texas, he was asked to be the deputy statewide |
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director for Arizona during President Clinton's reelection |
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campaign; in that capacity, he was instrumental in the state |
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electing a Democrat for the first time in more than 50 years; and |
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WHEREAS, His reputation for excellence earned him a job in |
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the nation's capital as chief of staff for the Office of |
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Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs at the U.S. Department |
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of Labor; in addition, he served as acting associate director in the |
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White House Office of Presidential Personnel, where he had the |
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opportunity to recommend one-third of President Clinton's |
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senior-level appointments, and Mr. Rodriguez further distinguished |
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himself as counsel to the solicitor at the U.S. Department of Labor |
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from 1999 to 2001; and |
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WHEREAS, He then returned to Texas and joined the firm of |
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Leonard Frost Levin Van Court & Marsh in Austin; remaining active in |
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politics, he was the state director and Colorado base vote director |
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for the Democratic presidential ticket in 2004; he currently serves |
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as the vice president of diversity and community outreach with |
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Seton Family of Hospitals; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Rodriguez was named a 2007 Austin Under Forty |
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winner in recognition of his professional achievements as well as |
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his contributions to his community, which include his service on |
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the boards of the Austin Public Library Foundation and the Austin |
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Young Lawyers Association; he has further distinguished himself as |
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a member of the Mexican American Bar Association of Texas, as the |
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chair of the Hispanic Bar Association of Austin Foundation, and as a |
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member of the Austin public television station's Hispanic Network |
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of Advisors; and |
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WHEREAS, With enthusiasm and sincere dedication, Geronimo |
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Rodriguez, Jr., has made many important contributions in behalf of |
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his fellow citizens, especially helping to advance the role of |
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Hispanics in the fields of politics and law, and his passionate |
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involvement will undoubtedly continue to benefit Texans for years |
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to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend Geronimo Rodriguez, Jr., for his |
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exemplary public engagement and extend to him sincere best wishes |
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for continued success and happiness; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Rodriguez as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |
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Martinez Fischer |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1302 was adopted by the House on April |
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13, 2007, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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