Bill Text: TX HR1945 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Recognizing the historic significance of Rio Vista Farm in Socorro.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-05-27 - Reported enrolled [HR1945 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HR1945-Enrolled.html

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H.R. No. 1945

R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Rio Vista Farm in Socorro played a central role in an
often neglected chapter in our nation's history; and
WHEREAS, Established in 1915 as the El Paso Poor Farm, the
site offered shelter to increasing numbers of people, including
many neglected children; it hosted a variety of public welfare
programs during the Great Depression and provided a temporary base
for the Civilian Conservation Corps; from 1951 to 1964, it served as
a reception and processing center for the Bracero Program, a
massive guest-worker initiative first launched by the
U.S. government to remedy farm labor shortages during World War II;
and
WHEREAS, More than 80,000 braceros, or manual laborers,
passed through Rio Vista Farm annually; they were subjected to
humiliating medical and psychological examinations, as well as
fumigation with DDT, before being bused to jobs across the country;
after fulfilling their contracts, often in harsh circumstances,
many of the workers were repatriated; others became U.S. citizens,
and their descendants today number in the millions; and
WHEREAS, In another aspect of its history, Rio Vista Farm
provided job opportunities for many people born in the United
States; citizens were employed in processing the legal
documentation required of braceros, as well as in transportation,
health care, and other areas; and
WHEREAS, From the early 1980s until the mid-1990s, part of
Rio Vista Farm was used by the El Paso County Sheriff's Office for a
training academy; eventually a few buildings were repurposed for
use as city administrative offices and as the Rio Vista Community
Center; the site was designated as a National Treasure by the
National Trust for Historic Preservation in 2016, but most of the
adobe structures are still in dire need of restoration; and
WHEREAS, Rio Vista Farm provides a window into a vital part of
the American experience, and its preservation will allow future
generations to more fully appreciate the intrepid spirit of our
forebears and the contributions made by the braceros who helped
this country during wartime and worked to secure a brighter future;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize the historic significance of Rio Vista
Farm in Socorro and commend all those involved in the effort to
maintain this site and raise awareness of its importance.
González of El Paso
Bonnen of Brazoria Guerra Noble
Allen Guillen Oliverson
Allison Gutierrez Ortega
Anchia Harless Pacheco
Anderson Harris Paddie
Ashby Hefner Parker
Bailes Hernandez Patterson
Beckley Herrero Paul
Bell of Kaufman Hinojosa Perez
Bell of Montgomery Holland Phelan
Bernal Howard Price
Biedermann Huberty Ramos
Blanco Hunter Raney
Bohac Israel Raymond
Bonnen of Galveston E. Johnson of Dallas Reynolds
Bowers J. Johnson of Dallas Rodriguez
Buckley Johnson of Harris Romero, Jr.
Bucy Kacal Rose
Burns King of Hemphill Rosenthal
Burrows King of Parker Sanford
Button King of Uvalde Schaefer
Cain Klick Shaheen
Calanni Krause Sheffield
Canales Kuempel Sherman, Sr.
Capriglione Lambert Shine
Clardy Landgraf Smith
Cole Lang Smithee
Coleman Larson Springer
Collier Leach Stephenson
Cortez Leman Stickland
Craddick Longoria Stucky
Cyrier Lopez Swanson
Darby Lozano Talarico
Davis of Dallas Lucio III Thierry
Davis of Harris Martinez Thompson of Brazoria
Dean Martinez Fischer Thompson of Harris
Deshotel Metcalf Tinderholt
Dominguez Meyer Toth
Dutton Meza Turner of Dallas
Farrar Middleton Turner of Tarrant
Fierro Miller VanDeaver
Flynn Minjarez Vo
Frank Moody Walle
Frullo Morales White
Geren Morrison Wilson
Gervin-Hawkins Muñoz, Jr. Wray
Goldman Murphy Wu
González of Dallas Murr Zedler
González of El Paso Neave Zerwas
Goodwin Nevárez Zwiener
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1945 was adopted by the House on May 23,
2019, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House