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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Rio Vista Farm in Socorro played a central role in an |
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often neglected chapter in our nation's history; and |
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WHEREAS, Established in 1915 as the El Paso Poor Farm, the |
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site offered shelter to increasing numbers of people, including |
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many neglected children; it hosted a variety of public welfare |
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programs during the Great Depression and provided a temporary base |
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for the Civilian Conservation Corps; from 1951 to 1964, it served as |
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a reception and processing center for the Bracero Program, a |
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massive guest-worker initiative first launched by the |
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U.S. government to remedy farm labor shortages during World War II; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, More than 80,000 braceros, or manual laborers, |
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passed through Rio Vista Farm annually; they were subjected to |
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humiliating medical and psychological examinations, as well as |
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fumigation with DDT, before being bused to jobs across the country; |
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after fulfilling their contracts, often in harsh circumstances, |
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many of the workers were repatriated; others became U.S. citizens, |
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and their descendants today number in the millions; and |
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WHEREAS, In another aspect of its history, Rio Vista Farm |
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provided job opportunities for many people born in the United |
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States; citizens were employed in processing the legal |
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documentation required of braceros, as well as in transportation, |
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health care, and other areas; and |
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WHEREAS, From the early 1980s until the mid-1990s, part of |
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Rio Vista Farm was used by the El Paso County Sheriff's Office for a |
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training academy; eventually a few buildings were repurposed for |
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use as city administrative offices and as the Rio Vista Community |
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Center; the site was designated as a National Treasure by the |
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National Trust for Historic Preservation in 2016, but most of the |
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adobe structures are still in dire need of restoration; and |
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WHEREAS, Rio Vista Farm provides a window into a vital part of |
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the American experience, and its preservation will allow future |
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generations to more fully appreciate the intrepid spirit of our |
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forebears and the contributions made by the braceros who helped |
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this country during wartime and worked to secure a brighter future; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize the historic significance of Rio Vista |
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Farm in Socorro and commend all those involved in the effort to |
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maintain this site and raise awareness of its importance. |
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González of El Paso |
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Bonnen of Brazoria |
Guerra |
Noble |
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Bailes |
Hernandez |
Patterson |
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Bell of Kaufman |
Hinojosa |
Perez |
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Bell of Montgomery |
Holland |
Phelan |
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Bonnen of Galveston |
E. Johnson of Dallas |
Reynolds |
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Bowers |
J. Johnson of Dallas |
Rodriguez |
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Buckley |
Johnson of Harris |
Romero, Jr. |
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Burns |
King of Hemphill |
Rosenthal |
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Burrows |
King of Parker |
Sanford |
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Button |
King of Uvalde |
Schaefer |
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Canales |
Kuempel |
Sherman, Sr. |
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Capriglione |
Lambert |
Shine |
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Davis of Dallas |
Lucio III |
Thierry |
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Davis of Harris |
Martinez |
Thompson of Brazoria |
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Dean |
Martinez Fischer |
Thompson of Harris |
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Deshotel |
Metcalf |
Tinderholt |
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Dutton |
Meza |
Turner of Dallas |
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Farrar |
Middleton |
Turner of Tarrant |
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Gervin-Hawkins |
Muñoz, Jr. |
Wray |
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González of Dallas |
Murr |
Zedler |
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González of El Paso |
Neave |
Zerwas |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1945 was adopted by the House on May 23, |
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2019, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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