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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Dedicated community organizers Nathan Selzer and |
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Hortencia Armendariz of McAllen have greatly benefited the people |
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of South Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Selzer began his career in 1994 as assistant |
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director for La Posada Providencia in San Benito, a shelter for |
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refugees and asylum seekers; he went on to serve as a paralegal for |
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the South Texas Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project and to work |
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for the Rio Grande Border Witness Program, for which he conducted |
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social justice learning tours to raise awareness of poverty, |
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immigration, and the impact of free trade along the Texas-Mexico |
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border; after serving five years as a partner representative for |
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the Rio Grande Valley Immigration Law Enforcement Monitoring |
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Project, he worked as director of the Valley Movement for Human |
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Rights and as coordinator of Casa de Proyecto Libertad before |
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joining the Service Employees International Union, Local 5, in |
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2006; and |
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WHEREAS, The following year, Mr. Selzer was named SEIU |
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political director of the Rio Grande Valley and has since claimed |
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numerous successes for members, including a family sick leave |
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policy, a 35 percent decrease in the cost of dependent health |
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insurance, and two raises; moreover, he successfully represented |
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members in civil service proceedings, initiated and directed the |
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2008 Mi Familia Vota Campaign, and developed a variety of |
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partnership projects with Hidalgo County departments; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Armendariz began her work in the Rio Grande |
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Valley in 2001 as assistant director of the child nutrition program |
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at Centro 16 de Septiembre and subsequently served as coordinator |
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of Proyecto Adelante for the United Farm Workers; building on her |
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experience, she became the lead community organizer for La Union |
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del Pueblo Entero, for which she coordinated a range of local and |
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state actions, and in 2005, she was hired as the lead organizer for |
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SEIU, Local 5; she has continued to contribute to the union as the |
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organizing director, in which role she has been instrumental in |
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winning improvements in pay, benefits, and working conditions for |
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civil employees in Hidalgo and Cameron Counties; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to sharing a passion for human rights |
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work, Mr. Selzer and Ms. Armendariz have enjoyed more than four |
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years of marriage and are the proud parents of a daughter, Sofia |
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Cielo; the family is moving to California, where both Mr. Selzer and |
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Ms. Armendariz have accepted positions with SEIU-United Health Care |
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Workers; and |
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WHEREAS, Nathan Selzer and Hortencia Armendariz have made a |
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lasting and positive difference in the lives of countless Valley |
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residents, and they may reflect with pride on their many |
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accomplishments as they embark on the next exciting chapter of |
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their lives; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Nathan Selzer and Hortencia Armendariz for |
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their steadfast efforts in behalf of immigrants, workers, women, |
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and children and extend to them sincere best wishes for success in |
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their new posts; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Selzer and Ms. Armendariz as an expression of high |
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regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |
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Gonzales |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 2096 was adopted by the House on May |
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19, 2009, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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