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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Employees, advocates, and partners of the energy |
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industry are celebrating Texas Energy Day at the State Capitol on |
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March 7, 2023; and |
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WHEREAS, Texas is the number one state in the U.S. for oil and |
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natural gas production, refining capacity, and pipeline miles; |
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moreover, the state has played an important part in helping our |
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nation become the world's leader in oil and gas production, which |
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has created an unprecedented level of American energy security; the |
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oil and gas industry also contributes greatly to the economic |
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well-being of the state by directly providing approximately 443,000 |
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jobs, with many more jobs indirectly tied to the oil and gas sector, |
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and in 2022 the industry generated nearly $25 billion in taxes and |
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royalties that helped fund such essential infrastructure as |
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schools, roads, and emergency services; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2022, Texas school districts received more than |
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$1.5 billion in property taxes from mineral properties producing |
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oil and natural gas, pipelines, and gas utilities, and Texas |
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counties received $608 million; the oil and gas industry also paid |
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$1.5 billion to the Economic Stabilization Fund last year and |
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another $2.1 billion to the Permanent University Fund; and |
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WHEREAS, The state's preeminent role in energy production has |
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been furthered through the use of fracking and other innovative |
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processes; many Texas oil and natural gas companies are leading the |
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way in developing new technologies designed to reduce water use, |
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expand water reuse, and increase the use of naturally occurring |
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salt water in their operations; and |
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WHEREAS, Because of advances in technology, carbon dioxide |
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emissions in the United States are at some of the lowest levels in |
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nearly three decades, and today, natural gas production has a |
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smaller carbon footprint than burning coal or petroleum products; |
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according to the Railroad Commission of Texas, the percentage of |
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natural gas flared out of all the natural gas produced in Texas |
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decreased by 73 percent between June 2019 and May 2021, with less |
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than two percent of the natural gas produced in Texas flared or |
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vented; further, even though oil and natural gas production have |
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skyrocketed, in 2020, methane emissions from the industry were down |
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17 percent since 1990; and |
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WHEREAS, Oil and natural gas are used to make the vast |
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majority of products and materials that we use every day, including |
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plastics, medicines, computers, and more, and Texas is a vital |
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contributor to the nation's global energy leadership; and |
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WHEREAS, The Texas oil and natural gas industry plays an |
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essential role in securing our state and national economy and |
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advancing global stability, and it is indeed fitting that the Texas |
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energy industry and its partners be recognized for their |
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contributions to the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize March 7, 2023, as Texas Energy Day at |
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the State Capitol and extend to all those participating in the event |
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sincere best wishes for the future. |
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Goldman |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 441 was adopted by the House on March |
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16, 2023, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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