SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 25

WHEREAS, The Fabens Airport is being honored as the Most Improved General Aviation Airport at the Texas Department of Transportation's 39th Annual Aviation Conference, which is being held on August 4-6, 2021; and

WHEREAS, The enhancements made to the Fabens Airport are the result of a multimillion dollar investment campaign; in 2018, El Paso County officials commissioned a development plan for the airport, and over the next several years, they secured capital improvement funding and other financial support for the project; based on the recommendations outlined in the development plan, the roof of the Fabens Airport building was replaced, an automated weather system and beacon pole were installed, and several other upgrades were made to the structure; and

WHEREAS, In 2020, county commissioners allocated $1.2 million for the design and construction of a new aircraft hangar at Fabens; the addition of the hangar is part of an ongoing effort to increase hangar availability at the airport, which will be key to attracting more business and eventually enabling the airport to be self-sustaining; additional funding has also allowed the county to resurface the runway at Fabens, install a security perimeter fence, and make other renovations in accordance with federal aviation standards; and

WHEREAS, The Fabens Airport is expected to continue to grow through its partnership with The University of Texas at El Paso for the development of the NASA MIRO Center for Space Exploration and Technology Research; plans are underway to establish a manned flight school at the airport, which will potentially require additional aircraft hangars and facilities to be built at Fabens; and

WHEREAS, The investments made in Fabens Airport have greatly enhanced its reputation as a regional hub for transportation and commerce, and its receipt of this notable award from TxDOT is indeed well-deserved; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 87th Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby congratulate the Fabens Airport on being named TxDOT's 2021 Most Improved General Aviation Airport and extend sincere best wishes to all those who were involved in attaining this honor; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be prepared for the Fabens Airport as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate.

Blanco

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on July 29, 2021.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate