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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The 26th annual Barbara Jordan National Forum took |
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place in Austin in February 2023, providing a fitting opportunity |
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to recognize the outstanding students who organized the event; and |
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WHEREAS, A native Houstonian, Barbara Jordan was the first |
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African American to hold a seat in a state Senate since 1883 and the |
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first African American woman from the Deep South to serve in the |
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U.S. House of Representatives; during her time in Congress, she |
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distinguished herself as a dedicated and influential advocate for |
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civil rights; she also served on the Judiciary Committee, and she |
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gained national recognition for her remarks on the Watergate |
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scandal; in 1979, she accepted a position as the Lyndon B. Johnson |
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Centennial Chair in National Policy at the LBJ School of Public |
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Affairs, and she held that role until her passing in 1996; and |
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WHEREAS, Each February, the LBJ School of Public Affairs |
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hosts a monthlong forum in honor of this trailblazing lawmaker, and |
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the event is organized by students who are elected by their peers; |
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the 2023 Barbara Jordan National Forum student leaders include |
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Morgan Brown, Jordan Nellums, and Jennifer Perales, who are all |
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completing graduate studies in public affairs; and |
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WHEREAS, This year's forum featured a day of volunteerism as |
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well as a number of lectures and other events, such as a keynote |
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speech by former congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, a ceremony to |
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present the Barbara Jordan Public Service Award, and the Barbara |
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Jordan Freedom Foundation Luncheon; and |
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WHEREAS, Through their efforts to make the Barbara Jordan |
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National Forum a success, the event's student organizers are |
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helping to ensure that Barbara Jordan's legacy of activism and |
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public service is carried on by future generations of civic |
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leaders; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 88th Texas Legislature |
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hereby commemorate the 26th annual Barbara Jordan National Forum |
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and extend to the event's student leaders sincere best wishes for |
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the future. |