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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 685
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WHEREAS, Latino and Latina elected officials from Texas |
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have distinguished themselves at all levels of government, and |
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their increased participation in public service through the |
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years reflects the vibrant diversity that is synonymous with the |
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Lone Star State; and |
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WHEREAS, Latino candidates have successfully competed in |
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elections since the early decades of the state's history, and |
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today, Latinos and Latinas have become integral to the political |
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process in Texas; they serve their fellow citizens as city |
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council members and county commissioners, as judges, and as |
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members of the Texas Legislature and the United States Congress, |
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among other elective offices; and |
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WHEREAS, Though individuals of Latino descent have faced |
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many challenges in gaining a prominent voice in government, out of |
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that struggle has emerged a series of legendary figures in the |
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Texas political landscape; in 1904, Representative José Tomás |
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Canales of Brownsville became the first Mexican American elected |
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to the Texas Legislature in the 20th century, and in 1919, during |
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his fifth term in office, he led a landmark legislative |
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investigation into the violence carried out by members of the |
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Texas Rangers against Latinos; as Latinos took a larger role in |
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politics following World War II, Eligio "Kika" de la Garza was a |
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trailblazer, completing six terms in the Texas House before |
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serving more than three decades in Congress; Latina public |
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officials came to the fore beginning in the 1970s, and in 1977 Irma |
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Rangel became the first Mexican American woman to serve in the |
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Texas House; she went on to be reelected 13 times and was the first |
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female chair of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus; and |
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WHEREAS, The 86th Texas Legislature stands as a proud |
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example of the increased prominence of Latinos in public office, |
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with Latino and Latina legislators forming a sizable portion of |
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both chambers; among them is another pivotal figure, Judith |
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Zaffirini, who in 1987 became the first Mexican American woman to |
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serve in the Texas Senate; during her long tenure in the upper |
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chamber, she has compiled an unparalleled record of more than |
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60,000 consecutive votes and has sponsored over 1,000 bills that |
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have passed into law; in addition, she has chaired many Senate |
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committees, including Higher Education, Health and Human |
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Services, and Government Organization; and |
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WHEREAS, Through their exceptional achievements in public |
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service, Latino officeholders have given voice to their |
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communities while working to improve the lives of all residents |
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of the Lone Star State, and in so doing, they have exemplified the |
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ideals upon which our nation was founded; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th |
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Legislature, hereby recognize the contributions of current and |
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former Latino and Latina elected officials and extend to those |
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presently serving sincere best wishes for continued success with |
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their important work. |
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Menéndez |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on May 2, 2019. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |