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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The observance of Women's History Month during March |
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2017 provides an ideal opportunity to acknowledge the historic |
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contributions made by women in the Lone Star State and beyond; and |
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WHEREAS, Since the founding of the Texas Republic, women have |
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played crucial roles in the social, economic, and cultural spheres; |
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Texas women participated in the abolitionist movement, and they not |
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only secured their own right to vote but have also worked in behalf |
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of all citizens to promote equal opportunity, civil rights, peace, |
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and justice; and |
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WHEREAS, Examples of the noteworthy accomplishments of women |
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abound; educator and suffragist Annie Webb Blanton became the first |
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woman in Texas to hold a statewide public office when she was |
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elected state superintendent for public instruction in 1918; |
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aviation pioneer Bessie Coleman, born in Atlanta, Texas, in 1892, |
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became the first African American woman to receive a pilot's |
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license and embarked on a career as a stunt flyer; the daughter of |
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migrant workers, Rebecca Flores Harrington was the first in her |
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family to attend college, and after graduating from the University |
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of Michigan, she dedicated herself to social justice and became |
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head of the Texas chapter of the United Farm Workers movement; |
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engineer Frances "Poppy" Northcutt was the first woman to hold an |
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operational support role in NASA's mission control, and she served |
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as president of the Houston chapter of the National Organization |
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for Women; after leaving hit pop group Destiny's Child, Beyoncé |
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Knowles built an even bigger solo career and established herself as |
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a business mogul and cultural icon while embracing feminism; |
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Barbara Bush, the daughter of former president George W. Bush, |
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cofounded Global Health Corps and, at 26, became chief executive of |
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the leadership development organization, which focuses on health |
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equity; and |
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WHEREAS, The strength of our nation depends heavily on the |
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continued advancement of women; by acknowledging the enormous |
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positive impact they have made, we encourage future generations to |
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ensure that gender is not an obstacle that must be overcome on the |
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road to achievement; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize March as Women's History Month and |
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celebrate the contributions made by women to this state and nation. |