SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 196

WHEREAS, A distinguished delegation from South Texas is visiting Austin on February 22, 2023, to celebrate Rio Grande Valley Day at the State Capitol; and

WHEREAS, Enjoying a strategic location on the Gulf of Mexico and along the Mexican border, the Rio Grande Valley was an important ranching region when Texas became the nation's 28th state in 1845; over time, the economy shifted from ranching to agriculture, and the Valley became the state's center of citrus and vegetable production; and

WHEREAS, In the 1960s, industry flourished and international trade became increasingly prominent; the region has contributed significantly to the tremendous increase in commerce across the United States-Mexico border, with more than 1,152,000 trucks, 11.7 million cars carrying 24.3 million passengers, 28,000 buses carrying over 300,000 passengers, and 6.2 million pedestrians crossing Rio Grande Valley ports of entry each year; commerce across the border averages more than $140 million in goods and services per day, with over $51 billion in commercial trade per year flowing across various land ports of entry; the Rio Grande Valley is an economic powerhouse for the State of Texas with approximately $12.5 billion in taxable sales recorded in reporting year 2022; and

WHEREAS, The Valley has 1.4 million residents, with approximately 600,000 individuals under the age of 25, and local and state officials have focused on the need to expand access to higher education and health care, strengthen the workforce, increase transportation and ports of entry infrastructure, and increase funding for public education; The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley serves some 30,000 students; the UTRGV School of Medicine is in its seventh year of operation with numerous GME programs and patient care sites; in addition, the Texas A&M University System recently opened its Higher Education Center at McAllen, which is linked to the campus in College Station and will offer programs in engineering, technology, biomedical sciences, agriculture, and laboratory sciences; and

WHEREAS, The six higher education institutions in the Rio Grande Valley, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Texas A&M University Higher Education Center at McAllen, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, South Texas College, Texas Southmost College, and Texas State Technical College, serve a student population of over 70,000; and

WHEREAS, Major sponsors for the day's legislative event include the Cities of Brownsville, San Benito, Primera, Palm Valley, McAllen, and Edinburg, ERO Architects, Gulf Aviation, the Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority, M&S De Leon Enterprises LLC, RGV Grant Consultants LLC, Cameron County Drainage District No. 5, Hidalgo County Precinct No. 4, JL Powers & Associates, Alamo Chamber of Commerce, the Weslaco, Edinburg, Pharr, Mission, Harlingen, and San Benito Economic Development Corporations, Prairie View A&M University, Supporting World Hope, the Rio Grande Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization, VTX1 Companies, Texas State Technical College, the Port of Harlingen Authority, Driscoll Children's Hospital, the Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation, Killam Development, Texas Gas Service, the Greater Chamber of Harlingen, the Texas Oil & Gas Association, Texas Regional Bank, AT&T, and Atlas Hall & Rodriguez, all of which are promoting greater regional cooperation in the 21st century; and

WHEREAS, A vibrant region with a rich heritage, the Rio Grande Valley is poised to take advantage of tremendous opportunities for continued economic development, and it is indeed most fitting to honor Valley residents for their dedication to building a bright and prosperous future for the area; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th Legislature, hereby recognize February 22, 2023, as Rio Grande Valley Day at the State Capitol and extend to all participants sincere best wishes for a productive and enjoyable visit.

LaMantia, Hinojosa, Zaffirini

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on February 22, 2023.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate

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Member, Texas Senate

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Member, Texas Senate