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SENATE RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Longhorns and Aggies are uniting at the State |
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Capitol on February 15, 2023, to celebrate The University of |
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Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University with Orange and Maroon |
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Legislative Day, a day when the state's two largest universities |
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celebrate their work to promote higher education in the State of |
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Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, Alumni from the two institutions total more than |
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1.15 million, and The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M |
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University had a combined enrollment of more than 127,000 |
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students in the fall of 2022, with more than 33,000 students |
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receiving degrees in 2022; the schools include superb museums and |
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libraries, including the George H. W. Bush Presidential Library |
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and Museum and the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and |
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Museum, and both universities are renowned for their exceptional |
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research, grants and productivity, with combined annual research |
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expenditures of over $1.93 billion; and |
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WHEREAS, The teaching and research missions of The |
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University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University benefit |
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the State of Texas through the cultivation of informed and |
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engaged citizens, and they drive economic prosperity through |
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technological innovation, entrepreneurial spirit, improved |
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health care, and scientific breakthroughs, including the |
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development of a new clot-busting medication at The University of |
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Texas at Austin that can reduce by half the risk of brain bleeding |
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in stroke patients as well as the discovery of new biological |
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technologies at Texas A&M University to fight pathogens that |
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infect Texas crops and cost the United States agricultural |
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industry billions of dollars each year; and |
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WHEREAS, Researchers from The University of Texas at |
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Austin and Texas A&M University explore, discover, and innovate |
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in the sciences, arts, and humanities and have been granted |
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numerous patents; as tier one research institutions, both |
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universities provide students with valuable opportunities for |
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applied learning with guidance from outstanding faculty across |
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the disciplines, and as Hispanic-serving institutions, both |
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universities broaden access to higher education for historically |
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underserved populations; and |
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WHEREAS, Both universities serve as important cultural |
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centers, engaging Texans in the visual and performing arts and |
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other creative endeavors, and they promote athletics and |
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physical education, inspiring Texans to stay active and to |
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support student-athletes; and |
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WHEREAS, The combined faculties feature five Nobel |
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laureates and more than 100 National Academy members, and among |
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the enrolled students are National Merit scholars, Rhodes |
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scholars, Olympic gold medalists, military service veterans, and |
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many of the Lone Star State's most outstanding students; in |
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addition, the two universities offer more than 500 graduate |
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degree programs and an extraordinary range of postgraduate |
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opportunities; and |
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WHEREAS, The two institutions have proven records of |
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support for our nation's military and have commissioned tens of |
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thousands of uniformed officers throughout their storied |
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histories; both schools enroll hundreds of veterans each |
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semester and are committed to offering new opportunities to our |
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nation's bravest and to providing supportive, military-friendly |
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environments; and |
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WHEREAS, The University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M |
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University have positioned themselves as preeminent institutions |
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of higher education on the state, national, and international |
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levels, and Texans are fortunate to have access to these two |
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excellent state university systems; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th |
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Legislature, hereby recognize February 15, 2023, as Orange and |
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Maroon Legislative Day and commend students and alumni from The |
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University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University for their |
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commitment to supporting higher education in the Lone Star State; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in |
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honor of this special occasion. |