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1996 SESSION
WHEREAS, Barbara Jordan, former three-term member of the United States House of Representatives and one of the most respected and influential leaders in the nation, died on January 17, 1996; and
WHEREAS, Barbara Jordan's life was a series of firsts: first African-American member of the Texas State Senate since 1883; first African-American woman ever elected to the Texas legislature; and first African-American woman elected to Congress from the South; and
WHEREAS, Barbara Jordan first burst upon the national scene during the Watergate hearings in 1974, when her overpowering moral authority, expressed in one of the most distinctive voices of the twentieth century, made her sound "as if the gates of heaven had opened"; and
WHEREAS, Barbara Jordan's keynote address at the 1976 Democratic National Convention is still remembered for its eloquence, its forcefulness, and its flawless delivery; and
WHEREAS, among her legislative achievements, Barbara Jordan co-sponsored Texas' first minimum-wage bill, sponsored workers' compensation legislation, and opposed the disenfranchising of blacks and Hispanics through increased voter registration requirements; and
WHEREAS, following her retirement from Congress, Barbara Jordan remained active and influential through her teaching at the University of Texas; and
WHEREAS, remembered for her trailblazing achievements, her unshakable belief in the United States Constitution, and her incredibly expressive voice, Barbara Jordan left an indelible impression on the American political landscape; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly note with great sadness the passing of Barbara Jordan, an American of unique stature and accomplishment; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate transmit a copy of this resolution to the family of Barbara Jordan as an expression of the deep respect in which her memory is held by the General Assembly of Virginia.