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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The tragic death of U.S. Army Specialist Vanessa |
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Guillén on April 22, 2020, at the age of 20, shocked and saddened |
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countless people across the state and nation, and it is indeed |
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appropriate to reflect on her life and legacy on the occasion of |
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Vanessa Guillén Day on September 30, 2021; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Houston, Vanessa Guillén was born on |
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September 30, 1999, to Rogelio and Gloria Guillén, and she grew up |
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with the companionship of five siblings, Mayra, Yovana, Guadalupe, |
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Manuel, and Roger; she excelled as both a student and an athlete at |
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Cesar Chavez High School, and her desire to serve her country |
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inspired her to enlist in the United States Army when she was 18 |
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years old; only a few days after she graduated from high school, she |
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began her career in the military and entered basic training; and |
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WHEREAS, First stationed in South Carolina and then in |
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Virginia, Specialist Guillén was later assigned to Fort Hood as a |
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small arms/artillery repairer with the 3rd Cavalry Regiment; she |
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was recognized for her dedication to duty with the Army |
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Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the |
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Army Service Ribbon; and |
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WHEREAS, Vanessa Guillén went missing from her post on April |
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22, 2020, and on June 30 her body was discovered; in the |
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investigation that followed, law enforcement identified a fellow |
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soldier as the prime suspect in her murder, and it was also revealed |
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that Specialist Guillén was planning to formally accuse the man of |
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sexual harassment; this turn of events inspired many current and |
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former members of the U.S. military, including those who had |
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experienced sexual harassment and sexual assault, to stand in |
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solidarity with Specialist Guillén, and they were joined by |
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countless members of the general public; and |
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WHEREAS, The death of Specialist Guillén has focused |
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attention on the current laws and policies regarding sexual |
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harassment in the military; in an effort to achieve meaningful |
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change in the wake of this tragedy, the I am Vanessa Guillén Act was |
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introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives with bipartisan |
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support; if the legislation becomes law, it would mandate a |
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comprehensive reform of the military's procedures for handling |
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sexual harassment allegations; in Texas, House Concurrent |
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Resolution 51 was filed during the 87th Legislative Session to urge |
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Congress to pass the act; and |
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WHEREAS, Although Vanessa Guillén's senseless death is a |
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source of profound sadness, her spirit lives on in the hearts of her |
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loved ones and all those who are fighting for justice in her name; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize September 30, 2021, as Vanessa Guillén |
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Day and pay tribute to her memory. |