Bill Text: TX HR2499 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Recognizing the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2023-05-30 - Reported enrolled [HR2499 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HR2499-Enrolled.html
| H.R. No. 2499 | ||
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| WHEREAS, The members of the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of | ||
| Texas are the descendants of a proud people who have lived in Texas | ||
| and northern Mexico for nearly two centuries; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Also known as the Kiikaapoa, the Kickapoos are an | ||
| Algonquian-speaking people who once lived a seminomadic lifestyle | ||
| in the Great Lakes region; a group of Kickapoos settled in Texas in | ||
| the 1830s and later moved through the Eagle Pass area into Mexico; | ||
| in the 1850s, the Mexican government awarded the Kickapoos land at | ||
| El Nacimiento, Coahuila, located around 130 miles south of Eagle | ||
| Pass; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Given special status to pass and repass the | ||
| U.S.-Mexico border, members of the tribe traveled back and forth | ||
| between the two countries for seasonal farm work; in 1983, the U.S. | ||
| government instructed the Secretary of the Interior to take land | ||
| into trust for the Kickapoos in Maverick County; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas was | ||
| officially recognized by the Texas Indian Commission in 1977 and | ||
| received federal recognition in 1983, and today more than 1,100 | ||
| members are enrolled in the tribe; the tribe is represented by a | ||
| tribal government, which provides members with a range of important | ||
| services and operates the Kickapoo Lucky Eagle Casino and Hotel, | ||
| along with other business ventures; in addition to generating | ||
| revenue for the health, housing, education, and economic | ||
| development of tribal members, the casino has served as a powerful | ||
| economic engine for the surrounding community, drawing numerous | ||
| other businesses and jobs to the area; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Celebrating their rich heritage as they work to | ||
| build an even better tomorrow, the people of the Kickapoo Tribe may | ||
| indeed take great pride in their unique contributions to the | ||
| history and culture of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas | ||
| Legislature hereby recognize the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of | ||
| Texas and extend to its members sincere best wishes for the future; | ||
| and, be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be | ||
| prepared for the tribe as an expression of high regard by the Texas | ||
| House of Representatives. | ||
| Morales of Maverick | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Speaker of the House | ||
| I certify that H.R. No. 2499 was adopted by the House on May | ||
| 29, 2023, by a non-record vote. | ||
| ______________________________ | ||
| Chief Clerk of the House | ||
