Bill Text: TX HCR35 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Recognizing February 7, 2023, as Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas Day at the State Capitol.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-03-27 - Signed by the Governor [HCR35 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HCR35-Enrolled.html
| H.C.R. No. 35 | ||
|
|
||
| WHEREAS, Proud members of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of | ||
| Texas are gathering in Austin for Alabama-Coushatta Day at the | ||
| State Capitol on February 7, 2023; and | ||
| WHEREAS, One of three federally recognized tribes in Texas, | ||
| the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe was originally two tribes, the Alibamus | ||
| and the Koasatis, who had a similar culture but lived in adjacent | ||
| lands in Alabama; starting in the 1760s, the two tribes began to | ||
| migrate westward into what is now East Texas; and | ||
| WHEREAS, In 1813, the tribes fought on the side of the | ||
| revolutionaries in the Mexican War of Independence from Spain, and | ||
| the new Mexican government granted them tracts of land in gratitude | ||
| for their service; two decades later, Sam Houston granted the | ||
| tribes land between the Neches and Sabine Rivers in exchange for not | ||
| siding with Mexico during the Texas Revolution; members of the | ||
| tribes served as guides for the Texan army and helped to feed | ||
| refugees who had fled from Santa Anna's troops; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Today, there are 1,200 members of the | ||
| Alabama-Coushatta, half of whom live on the reservation's 10,200 | ||
| acres in the Big Thicket of East Texas; the tribe is a fully | ||
| functioning sovereign government, providing a full complement of | ||
| health and human services, and it is responsible for 250 jobs, | ||
| including teachers, doctors, and peace officers; members also | ||
| maintain a health clinic, a day-care center, a solid waste | ||
| facility, three churches, and retail shops; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Home to one of the most scenic recreational areas in | ||
| the Lone Star State, the reservation is visited every year by | ||
| thousands of people who enjoy the fine opportunities for camping, | ||
| hiking, and picnicking; the reservation is also home to the Naskila | ||
| Gaming facility and an annual powwow and music festival; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Celebrating their rich heritage as they work to | ||
| build a better tomorrow, the people of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe | ||
| may indeed take great pride in their unique contributions to the | ||
| history and culture of Texas; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the 88th Legislature of the State of Texas | ||
| hereby recognize February 7, 2023, as Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of | ||
| Texas Day at the State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the | ||
| visiting members of the tribe. | ||
| Ashby | ||
| ______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
| President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
| I certify that H.C.R. No. 35 was adopted by the House on March | ||
| 8, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 140, Nays 0, 2 present, not | ||
| voting. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
| I certify that H.C.R. No. 35 was adopted by the Senate on | ||
| March 13, 2023, by a viva-voce vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Secretary of the Senate | ||
| APPROVED: __________________ | ||
| Date | ||
| __________________ | ||
| Governor | ||
