Resolution
WHEREAS, The Mexican American Legislative Caucus is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2023; and WHEREAS, Founded in the Texas House of Representatives in 1973 by lawmakers of Mexican American heritage, the caucus is the nation ‘s oldest and largest Latino legislative caucus; its members are dedicated to serving as a voice for a united Latino constituency across the state; and WHEREAS, The caucus has played a strong role in writing legislation and shepherding it through passage; in the 1980s, it pushed through the Bilingual Education Act, unemployment compensation legislation that included farmworkers, and a minimum wage bill for farmworkers; it also tamped down the “English-only” movement; members later successfully fought to increase funding for higher education in South Texas and the border region, and they helped shape the redistricting process; in the 1990s, in light of the growth of the Hispanic population, MALC opened membership eligibility to House members of any race or ethnicity who represent majority-Latino constituencies; and WHEREAS, Paul Moreno of El Paso became the first chair of MALC in 1975; the current chair, Representative Victoria Neave Criado, is the first Latina to lead the caucus in three decades; the House now has 17 Latinas, the largest number yet; and WHEREAS, In addition to Chair Neave Criado, the current caucus roster includes officers Vice Chair Christina Morales,