Bill Text: TX HCR72 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced

Texas House Concurrent Resolution 72 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Urging the president and Congress to continue to protect La Lomita Historical Park.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-03-12 - Referred to Culture, Recreation & Tourism [HCR72 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HCR72-Introduced.html

	86R10698 BPG-D

	By: Muñoz, Jr.	H.C.R. No. 72



	CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
	WHEREAS, Section 231 of the appropriations bill passed by the
	U.S. Congress on February 14, 2019, prohibits the use of funds made
	available through that act or prior acts for the construction of a
	barrier through La Lomita Historical Park in Mission; and
	WHEREAS, A religious center for more than 150 years, La
	Lomita was visited frequently in the mid-19th century by the
	Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, who traveled the Rio Grande
	Valley to perform baptisms, marriage ceremonies, and other rites
	for remote communities; the land's owner, a devout Catholic,
	welcomed the construction of a chapel in 1865 and bequeathed his
	ranch to the Oblate Fathers; a town grew up around the chapel, and
	when the city of Mission was founded in 1908, its name was chosen to
	honor the religious settlement; and
	WHEREAS, After the original church building was destroyed in
	a flood, dedicated parishioners replaced it; the present-day chapel
	dates to the early 20th century, and in 1964, it was recorded as an
	Official Texas Historic Landmark; recognizing the central role of
	Catholic missions in the settlement of the region, the entire La
	Lomita Historic District is listed in the National Register of
	Historic Places; and
	WHEREAS, Lovingly restored through the years, La Lomita
	Chapel continues to serve as a shrine owned by the Catholic Diocese
	of Brownsville; parishioners, area residents, and visitors were
	therefore deeply dismayed by the federal government's proposal to
	build a massive border wall through La Lomita Park; the diocese
	deems such a barrier inconsistent with Catholic teachings, and
	while disturbing the sanctity of the site, it would also cut the
	chapel off from the community, leaving it isolated between the wall
	and the Rio Grande; were the government to assert eminent domain to
	seize the land, it would violate both the First Amendment right to
	free exercise of religion and the provisions of the Religious
	Freedom Restoration Act; and
	WHEREAS, Countless Texans have practiced their faith at La
	Lomita Chapel over the course of its long history, and Congress
	demonstrated its abiding respect for religious freedom by
	prohibiting the use of funds for the construction of a barrier
	through the surrounding park; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the 86th Legislature of the State of Texas
	hereby respectfully urge the president of the United States and the
	United States Congress to continue to protect La Lomita Historical
	Park; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official
	copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to
	the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House of
	Representatives of the United States Congress, and to all the
	members of the Texas delegation to Congress with the request that
	this resolution be entered in the Congressional Record as a
	memorial to the Congress of the United States of America.