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SENATE RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The Texas-Mexico border spans 14 counties in the |
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State of Texas, and approximately 10 percent of the state's |
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population resides in a Texas-Mexico border county; and |
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WHEREAS, Millions of people rely on crossing the border to |
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access education, health care, retail, and other service |
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industry necessities, and these activities have a positive |
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effect on the economic stability of the region; the border |
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generated more than $350 billion in annual gross domestic product |
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as of 2019, and trade within the region represents more than 5 |
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percent of Texas' gross domestic product; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2018, trade through the El Paso port of entry |
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affected approximately 165,000 net jobs in Texas and $25 billion |
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in gross domestic product; moreover, Port Laredo is the largest |
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inland trade port along the border, ranking third in the nation |
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for total trade in May 2021; across the United States, the |
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Pharr-Reynosa International Bridge is the second largest |
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produce-crossing land port, ensuring the efficient delivery of |
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fresh fruits and vegetables to all Americans; and |
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WHEREAS, The Texas-Mexico border is a vibrant, thriving, |
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multicultural region that contributes to the richness and |
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diversity of our state and country; the majority of area |
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residents are Americans of at least partial Mexican descent, and |
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the tri-national region includes tribal nations such as the |
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Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas and Ysleta del Sur Pueblo of |
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El Paso; and |
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WHEREAS, Border communities have long been recognized for |
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their steadfast commitment to safety; countless generations of |
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Texans have chosen to rear their families along the Texas-Mexico |
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border due to its peaceful community, and some of the safest |
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cities in the country include Brownsville, Eagle Pass, Del Rio, |
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Laredo, McAllen, and El Paso, which is known for Fort Bliss and |
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its significant military presence; and |
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WHEREAS, Multiple cities along the border have been |
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honored with the All-American City award; El Paso has won the |
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award four times, and Edinburg has won three times; other |
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recipients of this prestigious designation include Brownsville, |
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McAllen, Mission, Hidalgo, Pharr, and Weslaco; and |
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WHEREAS, The Texas-Mexico border features an ecologically |
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diverse environment; the region's natural sites include the |
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Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, Quinta Mazatlán, the |
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Butterfly Center, and Big Bend National Park, which attracts |
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numerous species of birds, plants, butterflies, bats, reptiles, |
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and ants; in addition, one of the state's symbols, the Texas red |
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grapefruit, is grown in the Rio Grande Valley; and |
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WHEREAS, Countless Texans benefit from the border region's |
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premier educational institutions, which include four-year |
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universities, junior colleges, and trade schools; more than |
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28,600 students are enrolled in The University of Texas Rio |
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Grande Valley, and the UTRGV School of Medicine currently serves |
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hundreds of medical students, medical residents, and fellows who |
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participate in hospital-based training programs; there are three |
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higher education institutions in Laredo, namely Texas A&M |
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International University and Laredo College, which are |
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designated Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and The University of |
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Texas System Multi-Institution Center; and |
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WHEREAS, The Texas-Mexico border region is playing a vital |
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role in the story of the Lone Star State, and it is indeed |
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deserving of special recognition; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 87th Texas Legislature, |
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2nd Called Session, hereby recognize that the Texas-Mexico |
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border is vital to the economy, education, and character of our |
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state, and that the cities and counties along the Texas-Mexico |
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border are vibrant, prosperous, diverse, and safe communities. |