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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The Honorable Paul Cruz Moreno, who joined the Texas |
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House of Representatives in 1967, retired as the |
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second-longest-serving member of that body in January 2009; and |
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WHEREAS, This esteemed Texan was born on April 28, 1931, and |
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was raised in El Paso; following his high school graduation, he |
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enlisted in the Marines and, during his six years in uniform, he |
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served with valor in the Korean War, earning numerous awards and |
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decorations; he subsequently received a bachelor's degree in |
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business administration from Texas Western College and a law degree |
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from The University of Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, Representative Moreno began his legislative career |
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in 1967; long regarded as the "conscience" of the Texas House, he |
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pushed for ethics reforms in the 1970s as a member of the "Dirty |
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30"; he has also been a tenacious champion of the disadvantaged, |
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fighting for single-member districts, seeking to expand access to |
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quality education, and calling for the respectful recognition, both |
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in rhetoric and in policy, of every individual's human dignity; and |
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WHEREAS, Believed to be the longest-serving Mexican American |
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lawmaker in the country, Representative Moreno in 1973 joined in |
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founding the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, which addresses |
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issues of particular concern to Latinos in Texas; moreover, he has |
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endeavored to encourage grassroots participation in the political |
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process, helping to establish the group Tejano Democrats and giving |
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substantial support to the creation of the University Democrats at |
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UTEP; and |
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WHEREAS, For 40 years, Paul Moreno has devoted his |
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considerable talents and abilities to representing the interests of |
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his constituents and to advancing the cause of social justice in the |
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Lone Star State, and he has earned the deep affection and admiration |
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of his colleagues for his unfailing adherence to the highest ideals |
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of public service; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby pay tribute to the Honorable Paul Cruz Moreno for his four |
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decades of exemplary legislative service and extend to him sincere |
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best wishes for a rewarding retirement in the years ahead; and, be |
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it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Paul Moreno as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives and Senate. |