H.R. No. 715
                                  R E S O L U T I O N
    1-1        WHEREAS, Our esteemed colleague, the Honorable Irma Rangel,
    1-2  will celebrate her birthday on May 15, 1993, and it gives the
    1-3  members of this chamber great pleasure to recognize her on this
    1-4  joyous occasion; and
    1-5        WHEREAS, A native of Kingsville, she is the daughter of
    1-6  Presciliano Rangel, who became one of the most successful business
    1-7  and political leaders in his community, and Herminia Rangel, who
    1-8  was the owner of a popular women's dress shop in Kingsville; and
    1-9        WHEREAS, One of three daughters who would one day work in the
   1-10  field of public service, Ms. Rangel was graduated from Texas A&I
   1-11  University in Kingsville and began her career as an educator,
   1-12  teaching in the towns of Robstown and Alice and later in Venezuela;
   1-13  she also earned well-deserved acclaim in the education community
   1-14  early in her career as the author of the book, How to Teach Spanish
   1-15  in the Elementary Grades; and
   1-16        WHEREAS, In 1965, she pursued a lifelong dream and enrolled
   1-17  as a student at St. Mary's School of Law in San Antonio, during
   1-18  which time she first became aware of how important it was for
   1-19  Chicanos to become more involved and visible in the public sector;
   1-20  and
   1-21        WHEREAS, While working for the firm of Garcia and Rangel in
   1-22  Kingsville, she entered her first political race and was elected
   1-23  Kleberg County Democratic Party chairman in 1974; and
   1-24        WHEREAS, Ms. Rangel's victory was soon followed by a race for
    2-1  a seat in the Texas House of Representatives and, with her
    2-2  swearing-in ceremony in January 1977, she became the first
    2-3  Mexican-American woman elected to serve in the house; and
    2-4        WHEREAS, For 16 years, this highly regarded legislator has
    2-5  adhered to the highest standards of excellence as a member of this
    2-6  chamber, remaining compassionate toward the needs of the people who
    2-7  have sent her to Austin time and again to represent their
    2-8  interests; and
    2-9        WHEREAS, During her remarkable tenure, Ms. Rangel has lent
   2-10  her considerable expertise to committees examining such important
   2-11  issues as higher education in Texas, mental health and mental
   2-12  retardation, urban affairs, and business and industry; and
   2-13        WHEREAS, Drawing on her diverse background as an attorney and
   2-14  former educator, Ms. Rangel currently serves as vice-chair of the
   2-15  Higher Education Committee and the International and Cultural
   2-16  Relations Committee and has shared her leadership abilities in the
   2-17  past as vice-chair of the Judicial Affairs Committee and the Urban
   2-18  Affairs Committee; and
   2-19        WHEREAS, Ms. Rangel also is an active force in the Democratic
   2-20  Party, having served as a delegate to the Democratic National
   2-21  Convention on two occasions and been appointed to serve on the
   2-22  Texas Democratic Party Presidential Selection Commission in 1985;
   2-23  and
   2-24        WHEREAS, A former member of the Texas Advisory Committee of
   2-25  the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, she was elected the
   2-26  organization's vice-chair in 1982 and recently was elected to serve
   2-27  as a member of the Women's Advocacy Project in Austin and the Task
    3-1  Force on Environmental Justice of the Texas Air Control Board; and
    3-2        WHEREAS, Elected chair of the Mexican-American Legislative
    3-3  Caucus during this session, Ms. Rangel continues to serve as a role
    3-4  model and an inspiration to women everywhere, and her many
    3-5  contributions to the citizens of Texas as a member of this chamber
    3-6  indeed merit special commendation; now, therefore, be it
    3-7        RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 73rd Texas
    3-8  Legislature hereby congratulate the Honorable Irma Rangel on the
    3-9  occasion of her birthday and extend to her sincere best wishes for
   3-10  continued happiness and success in the years to come; and, be it
   3-11  further
   3-12        RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
   3-13  prepared for Representative Rangel as an expression of high regard
   3-14  by the Texas House of Representatives.
   3-15                                                              Raymond
   3-16  by the Texas House of Representatives.
   3-17                                                            Rodriguez
   3-18                                                              Raymond