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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Isela Gutierrez and Will Harrell have championed the |
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struggle for social justice, and their actions have resulted in a |
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positive change for this state; and |
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WHEREAS, Serving as coordinator of the Texas Coalition |
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Advocating Justice for Juveniles since February 2006, Ms. Gutierrez |
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is a principal advocate in exposing to the Texas Legislature the |
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structural flaws of and abuses occurring within the Texas Youth |
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Commission; in August 2006, she appeared before the Senate Criminal |
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Justice Committee interim hearing in McAllen, issuing visionary |
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demands for reform that ultimately were included in S.B. 103; |
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throughout the 80th legislative session, she has been a constant |
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and effective voice for reform and an indispensable expert resource |
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for staff and members; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Harrell, co-chair of the Texas Coalition |
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Advocating Justice for Juveniles and executive director of the |
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American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, has been an indefatigable |
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advocate for the rights of incarcerated Texans since the 77th |
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legislative session; as one of the most effective voices for civil |
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rights in the Texas Legislature for the past seven years, he has |
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worked to encourage passage of the racial profiling law, the Fair |
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Defense Act, and the "Tulia bills"; his expertise in Texas |
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government and his relationships on both sides of the aisle have |
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helped to put the reform concepts of Ms. Gutierrez into legislative |
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motion; and |
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WHEREAS, Together, they have garnered the critical support |
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and political clout of the Texas League of United Latin American |
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Citizens and the Texas Conference of the NAACP, which Mr. Harrell |
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has represented throughout the process; Ms. Gutierrez has shared |
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her leadership with the Texas Criminal Justice Coalition, and this |
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valued organization has in turn provided its vital expertise, |
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network of supporters, and guidance; moreover, Mr. Harrell and Ms. |
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Gutierrez were able to ensure that the Texas Legislature heard the |
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voices of parents whose children have been in TYC and of formerly |
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incarcerated youths; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Gutierrez and Mr. Harrell have served as vital |
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resources for the legislature in its efforts to address the |
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problems of the Texas Youth Commission, and they are most deserving |
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of special commendation; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 80th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby honor Isela Gutierrez and Will Harrell and extend to them |
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sincere gratitude and best wishes for continued success; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared |
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for Ms. Gutierrez and Mr. Harrell as an expression of high regard by |
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the Texas House of Representatives and Senate. |