HR277 - Recognizing February 18, 2025, as Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas Day at the State Capitol.

      H.R. No. 277       R E S O L U T I O N          WHEREAS, Proud members of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of   Texas are gathering in Austin for Alabama-Coushatta Day at the   State Capitol on February 18, 2025; and          WHEREAS, One of three federally recognized tribes in Texas,   the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe was originally two tribes, the Alibamus   and the Koasatis, who had a similar culture but lived in adjacent   lands in Alabama; starting in the 1760s, the two tribes began to   migrate westward into what is now East Texas; and          WHEREAS, In 1813, the tribes fought on the side of the   revolutionaries in the Mexican War of Independence from Spain, and   the new Mexican government granted them tracts of land in gratitude   for their service; two decades later, Sam Houston granted the   tribes land between the Neches and Sabine Rivers in exchange for not   siding with Mexico during the Texas Revolution; members of the   tribes served as guides for the Texan army and helped to feed   refugees who had fled from Santa Anna's troops; and          WHEREAS, Today, there are more than 1,300 members of the   Alabama-Coushatta, about half of whom live on the tribe's   10,200-acre reservation in the Big Thicket of East Texas; the tribe   is a fully functioning sovereign government, providing a full   complement of health and human services, and it employs some 250   people, including teachers, doctors, and peace officers; members   also maintain a health clinic, a day-care center, a solid waste   facility, three churches, and retail shops; and          WHEREAS, The Alabama-Coushatta reservation encompasses   scenic recreational areas, and the area is visited every year by   outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy the fine opportunities for camping,   hiking, and picnicking; the reservation is also home to the Naskila   Casino and an annual powwow; and          WHEREAS, Celebrating their rich heritage as they work to   build a bright future, the people of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe   may indeed take great pride in their unique contributions to the   history and culture of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it          RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas   Legislature hereby recognize February 18, 2025, as   Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas Day at the State Capitol and   extend a warm welcome to the visiting members of the tribe.     Ashby     Burrows Guerra Morales Shaw   Alders Guillen Morgan   Allen Harless Muñoz   Anchía Harris Noble   Ashby Harris Davila Olcott   Barry Harrison Oliverson   Bell of Kaufman Hayes Ordaz   Bell of Montgomery Hefner Orr   Bernal Hernandez Patterson   Bhojani Hickland Paul   Bonnen Hinojosa Perez of El Paso   Bowers Holt Perez of Harris   Bryant Hopper Phelan   Buckley Howard Pierson   Bucy Hull Plesa   Bumgarner Hunter Raymond   Button Isaac Reynolds   Cain Johnson Richardson   Campos Jones of Dallas Rodríguez Ramos   Canales Jones of Harris Romero   Capriglione Kerwin Rose   Cole King Rosenthal   Collier Kitzman Schatzline   Cook LaHood Schofield   Cortez Lalani Schoolcraft   Craddick Lambert Shaheen   Cunningham Landgraf Shofner   Curry Leach Simmons   Darby Leo Wilson Slawson   A. Davis of Dallas Little Smithee   Y. Davis of Dallas Longoria Spiller   Dean Lopez of Bexar Swanson   DeAyala Lopez of Cameron Talarico   Dorazio Louderback Tepper   Dutton Lowe Thompson   Dyson Lozano Tinderholt   Fairly Lujan Toth   Flores Luther Troxclair   Frank Manuel Turner   Gámez Martinez VanDeaver   Garcia of Bexar Martinez Fischer Vasut   Garcia of Dallas McLaughlin Villalobos   Garcia Hernandez McQueeney Virdell   Gates Metcalf Vo   Gerdes Meyer Walle   Geren Meza Ward Johnson   Gervin-Hawkins Money Wharton   González of Dallas Moody Wilson   González of El Paso Morales of Harris Wu   Goodwin Morales of Maverick Zwiener     ______________________________   Speaker of the House                 I certify that H.R. No. 277 was adopted by the House on February   18, 2025, by a non-record vote.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House