Bill Text: TX SR685 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Recognizing the contributions of current and former Latino and Latina elected officials.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Passed) 2019-05-02 - Reported enrolled [SR685 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-SR685-Enrolled.html
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| WHEREAS, Latino and Latina elected officials from Texas | ||
| have distinguished themselves at all levels of government, and | ||
| their increased participation in public service through the | ||
| years reflects the vibrant diversity that is synonymous with the | ||
| Lone Star State; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Latino candidates have successfully competed in | ||
| elections since the early decades of the state's history, and | ||
| today, Latinos and Latinas have become integral to the political | ||
| process in Texas; they serve their fellow citizens as city | ||
| council members and county commissioners, as judges, and as | ||
| members of the Texas Legislature and the United States Congress, | ||
| among other elective offices; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Though individuals of Latino descent have faced | ||
| many challenges in gaining a prominent voice in government, out of | ||
| that struggle has emerged a series of legendary figures in the | ||
| Texas political landscape; in 1904, Representative José Tomás | ||
| Canales of Brownsville became the first Mexican American elected | ||
| to the Texas Legislature in the 20th century, and in 1919, during | ||
| his fifth term in office, he led a landmark legislative | ||
| investigation into the violence carried out by members of the | ||
| Texas Rangers against Latinos; as Latinos took a larger role in | ||
| politics following World War II, Eligio "Kika" de la Garza was a | ||
| trailblazer, completing six terms in the Texas House before | ||
| serving more than three decades in Congress; Latina public | ||
| officials came to the fore beginning in the 1970s, and in 1977 Irma | ||
| Rangel became the first Mexican American woman to serve in the | ||
| Texas House; she went on to be reelected 13 times and was the first | ||
| female chair of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus; and | ||
| WHEREAS, The 86th Texas Legislature stands as a proud | ||
| example of the increased prominence of Latinos in public office, | ||
| with Latino and Latina legislators forming a sizable portion of | ||
| both chambers; among them is another pivotal figure, Judith | ||
| Zaffirini, who in 1987 became the first Mexican American woman to | ||
| serve in the Texas Senate; during her long tenure in the upper | ||
| chamber, she has compiled an unparalleled record of more than | ||
| 60,000 consecutive votes and has sponsored over 1,000 bills that | ||
| have passed into law; in addition, she has chaired many Senate | ||
| committees, including Higher Education, Health and Human | ||
| Services, and Government Organization; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Through their exceptional achievements in public | ||
| service, Latino officeholders have given voice to their | ||
| communities while working to improve the lives of all residents | ||
| of the Lone Star State, and in so doing, they have exemplified the | ||
| ideals upon which our nation was founded; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th | ||
| Legislature, hereby recognize the contributions of current and | ||
| former Latino and Latina elected officials and extend to those | ||
| presently serving sincere best wishes for continued success with | ||
| their important work. | ||
| Menéndez | ||
| ________________________________ | ||
| President of the Senate | ||
| I hereby certify that the | ||
| above Resolution was adopted by | ||
| the Senate on May 2, 2019. | ||
| ________________________________ | ||
| Secretary of the Senate | ||
| ________________________________ | ||
| Member, Texas Senate | ||
