TITLE: Recognizing March 14, 2026, as Texas Women in STEM Day.

SUMMARY: Recognizing March 14, 2026, as Texas Women in STEM Day.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Texas Women in STEM Day is taking place on March 14, 2026, and this occasion offers a welcome opportunity to honor those Texas women who have dedicated their lives to the advancement of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; and WHEREAS, Among the Texas women who have made their mark in STEM is Frances "Poppy" Northcutt, the first female engineer to have worked in NASA's Mission Control; in 1967, she joined NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston as a member of the Apollo 8 mission control team, and she worked as a flight controller for the Apollo 8, Apollo 10, Apollo 11, and Apollo 13 missions, serving on a team that provided mission oversight and real-time support for astronauts; during her inspiring career with NASA, she was instrumental in ensuring the success of the mission that placed humans in lunar orbit for the first time; and WHEREAS, Elise Harmon was an American physicist, chemist, and professor who played a vital role in developing the technology behind the modern-day computer; an alumna of the University of North Texas and The University of Texas at Austin, she went on to become involved in aircraft and electrical projects at the United States Naval Research Laboratory, where her research on carbon brushes strengthened the U.S. military effort against Germany during World War II; later, she served as a chief research engineer at Aerovax and introduced a new method for creating printed circuits that became a key advancement in the manufacture of electronics; and WHEREAS, Leah Moncure, a Bastrop native, was the first woman engineer in the State of Texas; in 1938, after attending The University of Texas and working at an engineering firm, she made history by earning her professional engineering license, and she remained the only registered female engineer on the state's roster for approximately 15 years; she went on to become the first female engineer to work for the Texas Department of Transportation, as well as the first to be granted life membership in the National Society of Professional Engineers; and WHEREAS, Born in Houston to Mexican American parents, Ruth Gonzalez obtained a degree from UT Austin and she subsequently earned the distinction of being the first Hispanic American woman to receive a doctorate in applied mathematics from Rice University; as an expert in seismic imaging methods and geophysical math, she was a longtime employee at ExxonMobil in its production research company; during her tenure there, she was instrumental in persuading the corporation to fund community-and minority-focused outreach programs; and WHEREAS, These four women contributed to their respective fields in ways that changed the world, and through their achievements as some of our state's pioneers in STEM, they have broken down barriers and opened doors of opportunity for those who aspire to follow in their footsteps; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas Legislature hereby recognize March 14, 2026, as Texas Women in STEM Day and pay tribute to all the women in STEM, past and present, who have brought pride to our state through their commitment to professional excellence, technological progress, and innovation. Howard Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 671 was adopted by the House on April 3, 2025, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House