By: Earley H.C.R. No. 157 73R11643 PFG-D CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, The Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission 1-2 has voted to add three vital South Texas naval installations in the 1-3 Corpus Christi area to a list of bases that potentially could be 1-4 closed; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Slated for possible closure are the Corpus Christi 1-6 Naval Air Station, Naval Hospital Corpus Christi, and Naval Station 1-7 Ingleside, which lies just north of the city across Corpus Christi 1-8 Bay; and 1-9 WHEREAS, Strategically located on the Gulf of Mexico, these 1-10 exceptional installations have proven their worth as military 1-11 assets and have become vital components of the local and regional 1-12 economy; and 1-13 WHEREAS, Midway between the east and west coasts of the 1-14 United States, the Gulf of Mexico represents a key position in our 1-15 nation's line of defense that requires the strong and continuing 1-16 military presence that these Corpus Christi-area installations 1-17 provide; and 1-18 WHEREAS, Corpus Christi is ideally suited for the presence of 1-19 naval installations when compared with similar installations in 1-20 other states because of its deep water port, mild climate, and 1-21 proximity to strategic areas of the Western Hemisphere; and 1-22 WHEREAS, In addition, recent figures indicate that the United 1-23 States Navy accounts for more than 9,000 jobs in Texas, many 1-24 concentrated in the South Texas region, that bring millions of 2-1 needed dollars into the area annually; and 2-2 WHEREAS, The military installations in and near Corpus 2-3 Christi are major employers in the region and house leading 2-4 training facilities for navy pilots and important medical 2-5 facilities; and 2-6 WHEREAS, The loss of these facilities not only would leave a 2-7 serious gap in the national defense but also would cause the many 2-8 civilian employees of these installations the loss of their jobs, a 2-9 devastating result the region and our country can ill-afford at any 2-10 time, but especially during these times of economic uncertainty; 2-11 now, therefore, be it 2-12 RESOLVED, That the 73rd Legislature of the State of Texas 2-13 hereby strongly urge the Defense Base Closure and Realignment 2-14 Commission not to recommend closure of naval facilities in and near 2-15 Corpus Christi; and, be it further 2-16 RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward an 2-17 official copy of this resolution to the committee as a formal 2-18 expression of the sentiment of the Texas Legislature.