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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 524
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WHEREAS, Preservation Month is taking place in May 2025, |
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providing a fitting opportunity to recognize Rio Vista Farm in |
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Socorro; and |
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WHEREAS, Rio Vista Farm was initially established in the |
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early 1900s to serve as a poor farm and institutional campus; |
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from 1951 to 1964, it served as a processing center for the |
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Bracero Program, an initiative established by the governments of |
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the United States and Mexico that brought Mexican laborers to the |
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U.S. to legally work in the American agricultural and railroad |
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industries; as one of the first and most active bracero centers |
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in the U.S., Rio Vista processed hundreds of thousands of workers |
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over the course of its operation; and |
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WHEREAS, Efforts to preserve Rio Vista resulted in the farm |
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being designated a National Historic Landmark by the Secretary of |
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the Interior on December 13, 2023, the first landmark established |
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in Far West Texas in over two decades; the revitalization process |
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has been guided by the City of Socorro and its historic |
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preservation officer, Victor Reta; the city has embarked on a |
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$35 million rehabilitation and capital improvement project to |
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restore the campus and adapt it for public use as a cultural |
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destination by establishing a museum and education center; and |
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WHEREAS, The preservation of Rio Vista Farm honors the |
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contributions that the braceros and other immigrant groups have |
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made to our state and nation, and by investing in this |
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historically significant site, the City of Socorro is ensuring |
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that it will be appreciated for generations to come; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th |
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Legislature, hereby honor the revitalization efforts at Rio |
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Vista Farm on the occasion of Preservation Month 2025 and extend |
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to all those associated with the initiative sincere best wishes |
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for continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be |
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prepared for the City of Socorro as an expression of high regard |
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from the Texas Senate. |
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Blanco |
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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 15, 2025. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |