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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, During 2011, the Association of Farmworker |
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Opportunity Programs is working to draw attention to the |
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underserved constituency of farmworker children; and |
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WHEREAS, Youth as young as 12 years of age are legally allowed |
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to work in agriculture for an unlimited number of hours outside of |
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school, yet according to the Centers for Disease Control's National |
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Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, agriculture is the |
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most dangerous industry in the United States that is open to |
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children in terms of injuries and fatalities; and |
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WHEREAS, Agricultural work involves exposure to pesticides |
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and the use of dangerous farm equipment, and these conditions can |
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lead to serious injury or even death; farmworker youth are also |
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excluded from the "hazardous work" protections imposed in all other |
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industries, allowing children as young as 16 to operate heavy |
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machinery and perform other dangerous functions that are strictly |
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reserved for adults in every other area of employment; and |
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WHEREAS, The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that |
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farmworker children earn less than $1,000 per year on average, |
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while often sacrificing their education and physical well-being; |
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moreover, it is estimated that more than half of migrant farmworker |
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youth drop out of high school; and |
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WHEREAS, The Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs |
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will be hosting events and activities throughout the year aimed at |
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improving federal standards concerning child labor in agriculture |
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and educating the public, all with the goal of brightening the |
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future of America's migrant and seasonal farmworker children; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate 2011 as the Year of the Farmworker |
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Child and encourage all Texans to learn more about this important |
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issue; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs as |
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an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |
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Munoz, Jr. |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1571 was adopted by the House on May |
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19, 2011, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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