Bill Text: TX HR452 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Enrolled

---

Bill Title: Commemorating February 2017 as Black History Month.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2017-02-22 - Reported enrolled [HR452 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-HR452-Enrolled.html

---

H.R. No. 452

R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The celebration of Black History Month in February
2017 provides a welcome opportunity to recognize the rich cultural
heritage of African Americans and the significant contributions
they have made and are making to the Lone Star State and to the world
at large; and
WHEREAS, A weeklong observance focusing on black history was
established in 1926 by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the Harvard-trained
historian and son of former slaves who founded the Association for
the Study of Negro Life and History; the first Negro History Week,
held in the week that encompassed both Abraham Lincoln and
Frederick Douglass's birthdays, was met with a warm reception
throughout the country, and February was officially recognized as
Black History Month by the U.S. government in 1976 and by the State
of Texas in 1983; and
WHEREAS, The Lone Star State has greatly benefited from the
leadership and vision of numerous African American lawmakers,
beginning with those elected during the Reconstruction Era after
African American men were granted the right to vote with the
ratification of the 15th Amendment; though discriminatory voting
laws restricted the opportunity for representation in the Texas
Legislature between 1899 and 1967, the passage of the Voting Rights
Act of 1965 helped return African Americans to legislative offices;
and
WHEREAS, The list of African Americans who have served in the
Texas Legislature includes David Abner Sr., Alma Allen, Richard
Allen, Edward Anderson, Alexander Asberry, Houston A. P. Bassett,
Thomas Beck, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Fred Blair, Edward Brown, D. W.
Burley, Walter Moses Burton, Stefani Carter, Reby Cary, Lanell
Cofer, Garnet Coleman, Nicole Collier, Giles Cotton, Yvonne Davis,
Wilhelmina Delco, Joe Deshotel, Dawnna Dukes, J. Goldsteen Dupree,
Harold V. Dutton Jr., Leonard Edward Briscoe, Al Edwards, Rodney
Ellis, Larry Q. Evans, Robert J. Evans, Jacob E. Freeman, Matthew
Gaines, Harriel G. Geiger, Barbara Gervin-Hawkins, Helen Giddings,
Ron D. Givens, Curtis M. Graves, Bedford A. Guy, Anthony Hall,
Nathan H. Haller, Jeremiah J. Hamilton, Terri Hodge, William H.
Holland, Zan W. Holmes Jr., Samuel Hudson III, Eric Johnson, Jarvis
Johnson, Jesse Jones, Karyne Jones Conley, Ruth Jones McClendon,
Barbara Jordan, Mitchell Kendall, Robert A. Kerr, Alex F. Kinneson,
Jerald H. Larry, El Franco Lee, George "Mickey" Leland, Doc C.
Lewis, Glen Lewis, Joseph E. Lockridge, Barbara Mallory Caraway,
Elias Mayes, David Medlock, Borris Miles, John Mitchell, Henry
Moore, Robert J. Moore, Sheppard Mullens, Jesse Oliver, Edward
Patton, Henry Phelps, Albert Price, Paul Ragsdale, Ron Reynolds,
Walter E. Ripton, Meshack R. Roberts, Toni Rose, George T. Ruby,
Alonzo Sledge, Robert Lloyd Smith, Clay Smothers, Henry Sneed,
James H. Stewart, Garlington Jerome "G. J." Sutton, Lou Nelle
Sutton, Shawn Thierry, Garfield Thompson, Laura Thompson,
Senfronia Thompson, Scott Turner, Sylvester Turner, Marc Veasey,
Craig A. Washington, James H. Washington, Bobby Webber, Royce West,
James White, Allen W. Wilder, Benjamin Franklin Williams, Richard
Williams, Ron Wilson, and George W. Wyatt; and
WHEREAS, The celebration of Black History Month highlights
the myriad ways in which African Americans have helped shape this
nation over the course of four centuries; it also serves as a
reminder that the immeasurable benefits of living in a truly
diverse society, with equal treatment for all, should motivate our
words and our actions every month of every year; now, therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th
Legislature hereby commemorate February 2017 as Black History Month
and encourage all citizens to learn more about the history and
accomplishments of African Americans.
Johnson of Dallas
Straus Goldman Oliverson
Allen Gonzales of Williamson Ortega
Alonzo González of El Paso Paddie
Alvarado Gooden Parker
Anchia Guerra Paul
Anderson of Dallas Guillen Perez
Anderson of McLennan Gutierrez Phelan
Arévalo Hefner Phillips
Ashby Hernandez Pickett
Bailes Herrero Price
Bell Hinojosa Raney
Bernal Holland Raymond
Biedermann Howard Reynolds
Blanco Huberty Rinaldi
Bohac Hunter Roberts
Bonnen of Brazoria Isaac Rodriguez of Bexar
Bonnen of Galveston Israel Rodriguez of Travis
Burkett Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr.
Burns Johnson of Harris Rose
Burrows Kacal Sanford
Button Keough Schaefer
Cain King of Hemphill Schofield
Canales King of Parker Schubert
Capriglione King of Uvalde Shaheen
Clardy Klick Sheffield
Coleman Koop Shine
Collier Krause Simmons
Cook Kuempel Smithee
Cortez Lambert Springer
Cosper Landgraf Stephenson
Craddick Lang Stickland
Cyrier Larson Stucky
Dale Laubenberg Swanson
Darby Leach Thierry
Davis of Dallas Longoria Thompson of Brazoria
Davis of Harris Lozano Thompson of Harris
Dean Lucio III Tinderholt
Deshotel Martinez Turner
Dukes Metcalf Uresti
Dutton Meyer VanDeaver
Elkins Miller Villalba
Faircloth Minjarez Vo
Fallon Moody Walle
Farrar Morrison White
Flynn Muñoz, Jr. Wilson
Frank Murphy Workman
Frullo Murr Wray
Geren Neave Wu
Gervin-Hawkins Nevárez Zedler
Giddings Oliveira Zerwas
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 452 was adopted by the House on February
21, 2017, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House