Several Texans have been nominated for the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize, including top vaccine expert Dr. Peter Hotez.
Houston Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher nominated Hotez and Dr. Maria Elena Bottazzi, who both co-direct the Texas Children's Center for Vaccine Development.
Fletcher, a Democrat, said in a press that she nominated the pair because of their work to 鈥渄evelop and distribute a low-cost COVID-19 vaccine to people of the world without patent limitation.鈥� Their has been authorized in India.
Both Botazzi and Hotez have expressed gratitude for the nomination. In a statement, Hotez said he was honored.
鈥淒r. Bottazzi and I have worked together for years, and our purpose has never changed 鈥� to bring attention to the neglected diseases of poverty and build a new generation of vaccine in the pursuit of global vaccine diplomacy,鈥� he added.
Fort Worth activist Opal Lee was also nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Fort Worth, and 32 other members of Congress nominating the 95-year-old who鈥檚 known as the 鈥淕randmother of Juneteenth.鈥�
Through Lee鈥檚 efforts, Juneteenth 鈥� which is celebrated on June 19 鈥� is now a national holiday after President last year. Lee was also ceremony.
鈥淢s. Lee for several decades to bring recognition to the date the last recognized enslaved people in Texas were freed, June 19, 1865, two and a half years after the [Emancipation] proclamation was signed,鈥� the letter read.
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Houston, were among the 12 Texans who signed the nomination letter for Opal Lee. Both led the bipartisan effort in Congress to make Juneteenth a federal holiday as well as in the U.S. House and Senate.
