By: Patterson S.C.R. No. 49 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, For more than a decade, the Texas oyster industry 1-2 has led the nation in the enforcement of stringent food quality and 1-3 food safety standards; and 1-4 WHEREAS, Texas oyster producers have consistently implemented 1-5 the very highest standards of quality developed by the Interstate 1-6 Shellfish Sanitation Conference, an organization that includes 1-7 members of state regulatory agencies, the shellfish industry, and 1-8 the Food and Drug Administration; and 1-9 WHEREAS, The Texas oyster industry has worked closely with 1-10 the Texas Department of Health and the Texas Parks and Wildlife 1-11 Department to ensure that our state maintains and enforces strict 1-12 regulations governing oyster production, harvesting, processing, 1-13 and distribution; as a result of these efforts, consumers of 1-14 Texas-grown and Texas-processed oysters now enjoy the safest and 1-15 most delicious shellfish to be found in the country; and 1-16 WHEREAS, The stringent quality control standards currently in 1-17 place within the Texas oyster industry have not been adopted by 1-18 other oyster-producing states; consequently, although many states 1-19 may produce oysters more cheaply, this state's oysters are 1-20 recognized nationally as safe and of outstanding quality; and 1-21 WHEREAS, The Texas oyster industry also has taken a principal 1-22 role in protecting the health of some of our state's most 1-23 vulnerable citizens; in recent years the industry has embarked on 1-24 an ambitious and successful campaign to warn the public of the 2-1 danger that raw shellfish consumption may pose to individuals with 2-2 weakened immune systems; and 2-3 WHEREAS, Texas oyster producers have made many significant 2-4 contributions to the economy of the Lone Star State as well; nearly 2-5 three million pounds of oysters worth more than $7 million were 2-6 produced in 1991, and until 1981 the industry produced vast 2-7 quantities of oyster shell for use in the manufacture of cement and 2-8 concrete aggregate; and 2-9 WHEREAS, In light of these many outstanding contributions, it 2-10 is indeed fitting that Texas oyster producers, processors, and 2-11 marketers be given special recognition and support for their 2-12 successful efforts to promote high standards of quality within the 2-13 shellfish industry; now, therefore, be it 2-14 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-15 hereby commend the Texas oyster industry for developing, promoting, 2-16 and maintaining high standards for food safety and food quality; 2-17 and, be it further 2-18 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-19 prepared for representatives of the Texas oyster industry as an 2-20 expression of high regard by the Legislature of the State of Texas.