TITLE: Recognizing June 29, 2018, as Basque American Day.

SUMMARY: Recognizing June 29, 2018, as Basque American Day.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The observance of Basque American Day on June 29, 2018, provides an ideal opportunity to celebrate a rich and venerable heritage; and WHEREAS, In 2016, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C., highlighted the culture of the Basques; a number of state officials across the country set aside June 29 of that year to recognize Basque Americans, who trace their roots to one of the oldest indigenous enclaves in Europe, one that spans the Pyrenees Mountains in northern Spain and southwestern France; and WHEREAS, Basques were among the earliest Europeans to visit the Americas, beginning with the earliest whale and cod fishing on the east coast, and transatlantic commercial trading; Christopher Columbus' flagship, the Santa Maria,was built in Basque shipyards, and all three vessels in his expedition had Basque expert sailors as crew members; as the exploration and settlement of the New World proceeded, Basques were especially involved in building and manning ships and maintaining the commercial trade that kept supplies flowing to American colonies; and WHEREAS, Many Basques played a prominent role in the early history of Texas; in 1541, a number of Basque men accompanied Francisco V squez de Coronado on his quest for the Seven Cities of Gold; over a century later, Basque priest Francisco Ayeta founded three missions near present-day El Paso, which were among the first European outposts in the state; Juan Bautista Elgu zabal was interim governor of Texas at the time of the Louisiana Purchase, and his son, Juan Jos  Elgu zabal, born in San Antonio de B xar, later served in the same capacity; August n de It rbide, the self-proclaimed emperor of Mexico, signed the first permit for Stephen F. Austin's Anglo American colony in 1823; and WHEREAS, During the 19th and early 20th centuries, waves of immigrants from the Basque region sought greater opportunity in the United States, principally in the West, and they won admiration for their strong work ethic and expertise in business and agriculture; Basques have contributed to the development of our nation since its inception, and today, proud Americans of Basque descent continue to enrich its culture and enhance its prosperity; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby recognize June 29, 2018, as Basque American Day. Anchia Straus Goldman Oliverson Allen Gonzales of Williamson Ortega Alonzo Gonz lez of El Paso Paddie Alvarado Gooden Parker Anchia Guerra Paul Anderson of Dallas Guillen Perez Anderson of McLennan Gutierrez Phelan Ar valo Hefner Phillips Ashby Hernandez Pickett Bailes Herrero Price Bell Hinojosa Raney Bernal Holland Raymond Biedermann Howard Reynolds Blanco Huberty Rinaldi Bohac Hunter Roberts Bonnen of Brazoria Isaac Rodriguez of Bexar Bonnen of Galveston Israel Rodriguez of Travis Burkett Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr. Burns Johnson of Harris Rose Burrows Kacal Sanford Button Keough Schaefer Cain King of Hemphill Schofield Canales King of Parker Schubert Capriglione King of Uvalde Shaheen Clardy Klick Sheffield Coleman Koop Shine Collier Krause Simmons Cook Kuempel Smithee Cortez Lambert Springer Cosper Landgraf Stephenson Craddick Lang Stickland Cyrier Larson Stucky Dale Laubenberg Swanson Darby Leach Thierry Davis of Dallas Longoria Thompson of Brazoria Davis of Harris Lozano Thompson of Harris Dean Lucio III Tinderholt Deshotel Martinez Turner Dukes Metcalf Uresti Dutton Meyer VanDeaver Elkins Miller Villalba Faircloth Minjarez Vo Fallon Moody Walle Farrar Morrison White Flynn Mu oz, Jr. Wilson Frank Murphy Workman Frullo Murr Wray Geren Neave Wu Gervin-Hawkins Nev rez Zedler Giddings Oliveira Zerwas Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 38 was adopted by the House on July 24, 2017, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House