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89(R) HR 1125 - Enrolled version - Bill Text
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