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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Mexican American Legislative Caucus is |
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celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2023; and |
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WHEREAS, Founded in the Texas House of Representatives in |
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1973 by lawmakers of Mexican American heritage, the caucus is the |
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nation's oldest and largest Latino legislative caucus; its members |
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are dedicated to serving as a voice for a united Latino constituency |
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across the state; and |
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WHEREAS, The caucus has played a strong role in writing |
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legislation and shepherding it through passage; in the 1980s, it |
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pushed through the Bilingual Education Act, unemployment |
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compensation legislation that included farmworkers, and a minimum |
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wage bill for farmworkers; it also tamped down the "English-only" |
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movement; members later successfully fought to increase funding for |
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higher education in South Texas and the border region, and they |
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helped shape the redistricting process; in the 1990s, in light of |
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the growth of the Hispanic population, MALC opened membership |
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eligibility to House members of any race or ethnicity who represent |
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majority-Latino constituencies; and |
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WHEREAS, Paul Moreno of El Paso became the first chair of MALC |
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in 1975; the current chair, Representative Victoria Neave Criado, |
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is the first Latina to lead the caucus in three decades; the House |
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now has 17 Latinas, the largest number yet; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to Chair Neave Criado, the current |
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caucus roster includes officers Vice Chair Christina Morales, |
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Treasurer Mary Ann Perez, Counsel Armando Walle, and Secretary |
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Armando Martinez, as well as Whip Ramon Romero Jr., Deputy Whips |
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Elizabeth Campos, Ana-Maria Ramos, Jessica González, Penny |
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Morales-Shaw, and members Sergio Muñoz Jr., Gina Hinojosa, Trey |
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Martinez Fischer, Bobby Guerra, Ryan Guillen, Richard Peña Raymond, |
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Erin Gámez, Lulu Flores, Joe Moody, Lina Ortega, Mary González, |
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Claudia Ordaz, Tracy O. King, John Lujan, Gene Wu, Diego Bernal, |
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Rafael Anchía, Philip Cortez, Eddie Morales, Oscar Longoria, Terry |
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Canales, J. M. Lozano, Ana Hernandez, Ray Lopez, Terry Meza, Abel |
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Herrero, Janie Lopez, and Josey Garcia; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the past half century, the Mexican American |
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Legislative Caucus has advanced issues important to the Latino |
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community while working to make the Lone Star State a better place |
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for all, and it is indeed appropriate to recognize its |
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contributions; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding |
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of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus and honor its members |
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for their service to the citizens of Texas; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the caucus as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |