HR1125 - Commemorating the 94th anniversary of the birth of former state representative Irma Rangel.

      H.R. No. 1125       R E S O L U T I O N          WHEREAS, May 15, 2025, marks the 94th anniversary of the   birth of the late state representative Irma Rangel; and          WHEREAS, The daughter of Herminia Lerma and Preciliano   Martinez Rangel, Irma Rangel was born and raised in Kingsville; she   earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and a   teaching certificate from Texas A&M University-Kingsville and   taught in California and Venezuela as well as Texas; committed to   public service, she went on to graduate from St. Mary's University   School of Law and worked as an assistant district attorney in Corpus   Christi before opening her own law office in her hometown and   becoming involved in grassroots politics; and          WHEREAS, In 1976, Representative Rangel became the first   Mexican American woman elected to the Texas Legislature; she worked   tirelessly over more than a quarter century to break down systemic   barriers to the advancement of underrepresented communities; among   her many achievements, she secured passage of laws to extend   absentee voting, establish support centers for survivors of   domestic violence, and create employment and education programs for   mothers with dependent children; and          WHEREAS, Representative Rangel was also instrumental in the   radical transformation of higher education and the expansion of   access for low-income and minority students; as chair of the Higher   Education Committee, she was the primary sponsor of the landmark   law guaranteeing that students who graduate in the top 10 percent of   their high school class receive automatic admission to the state's   top public universities; her efforts were crucial in the funding of   South Texas' first professional school, now the Irma Lerma Rangel   College of Pharmacy at Texas A&M; other institutions named in her   honor include the Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women's Leadership School   in Dallas and the Irma Rangel Public Policy Institute at The   University of Texas at Austin; in addition, the Mexican American   Legislative Leadership Foundation recognized her legacy in the   establishment of the Moreno/Rangel Legislative Leadership   Fellowship; and          WHEREAS, Deeply devoted to her fellow Texans, the Honorable   Irma Rangel served in the legislature until 2003, when she lost her   battle with cancer; her trailblazing accomplishments have   continued to resonate powerfully, and she remains a source of   inspiration to the countless people who have joined in her quest for   meaningful change; now, therefore, be it          RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas   Legislature hereby commemorate the 94th anniversary of the birth of   former state representative Irma Rangel and encourage all Texans to   learn more about her far-reaching contributions to the Lone Star   State.     Romero     ______________________________   Speaker of the House                 I certify that H.R. No. 1125 was adopted by the House on May   23, 2025, by a non-record vote.     ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House