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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Nancy Pelosi, the first woman to serve as speaker of |
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the United States House of Representatives, was elected to a fourth |
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term in that office in January 2021; and |
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WHEREAS, Speaker Pelosi's career as a member of congress |
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began in 1987, and she has long been one of the most powerful and |
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influential figures on Capitol Hill; in 2002, she was elected as |
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house minority leader by her Democratic colleagues, becoming the |
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first woman in history to hold that title; after rising to the |
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position of speaker in 2007, she presided over the house during the |
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highly productive 111th Congress from 2009 to 2011, working with |
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President Barack Obama to secure passage of the American Recovery |
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and Reinvestment Act and the landmark Affordable Care Act; she also |
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rallied support for Wall Street reforms, consumer protection |
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legislation, and anti-discrimination laws, such as the Lily |
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Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, as well as the repeal of the U.S. military's |
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"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy; and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout her time in office, Speaker Pelosi has |
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been a leading advocate on environmental issues; in 1989, she |
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introduced a provision known as the Pelosi Amendment to the |
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International Development and Finance Act, requiring greater |
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scrutiny of the environmental impacts of proposed development; as |
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speaker, she worked to enact comprehensive energy legislation in |
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2007 that raised vehicle fuel efficiency standards, and under her |
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leadership, the house continued its efforts to combat climate |
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change by passing the American Clean Energy and Security Act of |
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2009; demonstrating her strength as a negotiator, she later helped |
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secure renewable energy tax credits as part of the fiscal year 2016 |
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spending bill; and |
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WHEREAS, In her efforts to promote accountability and |
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transparency in government, Speaker Pelosi has led the house in |
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passing robust ethics reforms; other prominent bills signed into |
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law during her speakership have ushered in a minimum wage increase, |
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a significant expansion in college aid funding, and improved |
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veterans' services; and |
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WHEREAS, While holding the post of house minority leader from |
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2011 to 2019, this determined legislator helped attain funding to |
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fight the opioid epidemic, to advance medical research, and to |
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provide child care assistance to low-income families, among other |
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accomplishments; moreover, she united house Democrats in opposing |
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attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act and championed a |
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bipartisan agreement to strengthen Medicare; and |
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WHEREAS, Speaker Pelosi again made history in 2019 when she |
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became the first member of congress to regain the speaker's gavel in |
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more than 60 years; through her widely publicized work as a |
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congressional leader, she has helped break down barriers at the |
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highest levels of public service and has served as a role model for |
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other women seeking elected office; in recognition of her immense |
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influence in politics and society, she was inducted into the |
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National Women's Hall of Fame in 2013; and |
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WHEREAS, Nancy Pelosi has played an instrumental role in |
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American government during a pivotal era in our nation's history, |
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and her leadership will be integral to the important work carried |
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out by the United States Congress in the years ahead; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Nancy Pelosi on her election to a |
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fourth term as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and |
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extend to her sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Speaker Pelosi as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |