HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, Unpredictable and capricious weather has caused

 1-2     extremely heavy spring rains to fall in many areas of the state,

 1-3     bringing damage from flooding in several regions, including the Rio

 1-4     Grande Valley; and

 1-5           WHEREAS, The flooding that has occurred in the Rio Grande

 1-6     Valley has had a devastating effect on several crops, including

 1-7     melons, onions, carrots, and cabbages; initial estimates indicate

 1-8     that approximately 60 percent of the onion crop and 80 percent of

 1-9     the melon crop were destroyed by unseasonably heavy rains; and

1-10           WHEREAS, The direct economic impact of flood damage to crops

1-11     translates to a $50 million loss for valley growers, and indirect

1-12     impacts are estimated to cost the Rio Grande Valley region a total

1-13     of $66 million and 2,000 lost jobs; and

1-14           WHEREAS, In the past four years, farmers in this area of the

1-15     state have  seen their fields wither under scorching drought

1-16     conditions and have recently had to wade through flooded fields in

1-17     order to salvage the remainder of this year's meager harvest; and

1-18           WHEREAS, Agricultural production in Texas benefits not only

1-19     the residents of this state but also millions across America who

1-20     dine on our excellent produce; it is imperative that the farmers

1-21     affected by spring flooding receive assistance  to weather this

1-22     current economic storm; now, therefore, be it

1-23           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

1-24     endorse actions for securing federal disaster relief for the Rio

 2-1     Grande Valley and encourage the governor of the State of Texas to

 2-2     support requests for federal disaster relief assistance; and, be it

 2-3     further

 2-4           RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official

 2-5     copy of this resolution to the governor of the State of Texas.

                                                                   Gutierrez

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.C.R. No. 306 was adopted by the House on May

         27, 1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.C.R. No. 306 was adopted by the Senate on

         May 29, 1997, by a viva-voce vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor