By:  Lucio                                             S.R. No. 322

 1-1                                       1

 1-2                              SENATE RESOLUTION

 1-3           WHEREAS, The Texas Senate is proud to join the citizens of

 1-4     Harlingen in the celebration of Harlingen Day at the State Capitol

 1-5     on March 12, 1997; and

 1-6           WHEREAS, Referred to as an "All-American City," the

 1-7     City of Harlingen is the geographic center for the Rio Grande

 1-8     Valley of Texas and is the regional focal point in South Texas;

 1-9     and

1-10           WHEREAS, Harlingen, with its semitropical climate, is also

1-11     known as the "Tropical Playground of Texas"; in addition, it is

1-12     home to the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings Baseball Team; and it

1-13     wholeheartedly supports Representative Brimer's effort to bring

1-14     major league baseball spring training to the Valley; and

1-15           WHEREAS, Harlingen is also home to the Rio Grande Valley

1-16     Birding Festival, which shares the Valley's unique wildlife and

1-17     beauty of the land with visitors from across our country and

1-18     demonstrates that economic progress and prosperity can walk hand

1-19     in hand with maintaining natural ecological resources; and

1-20           WHEREAS, The City of Harlingen's outstanding civic leadership

1-21     is moving the "Harlingen Interplex" into the next century; the

1-22     city is the world's newest crossroads of international commerce

1-23     with world-class manufacturing firms such as Fruit of the Loom,

 2-1     Lockheed-Martin, and Keystone International; and

 2-2           WHEREAS, Harlingen is recognized as the home of the area's

 2-3     most advanced medical facilities and through recent construction

 2-4     has further enhanced the state-of-the-art Valley Baptist Medical

 2-5     Center and expanded educational facilities at one of the Valley's

 2-6     premier institutions of higher learning, the Texas State Technical

 2-7     College; and

 2-8           WHEREAS, Harlingen, as an owner of the Free Trade Bridge, is

 2-9     strategic to the full implementation of the North American Free

2-10     Trade Agreement and is a full partner in economic and industrial

2-11     development in the region and in Mexico; and

2-12           WHEREAS, Community volunteerism is a way of life for the

2-13     Harlingen citizenry, and the city boasts thousands of volunteers

2-14     in the areas of community service and environmental and social

2-15     causes; and

2-16           WHEREAS, Throughout the years, Harlingen has distinguished

2-17     itself as one of our state's most outstanding communities, and

2-18     it is indeed fitting that the city and its residents receive

2-19     appropriate legislative recognition for their many accomplishments;

2-20     now, therefore, be it

2-21           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,

2-22     75th Legislature, hereby designate March 12, 1997, as Harlingen Day

2-23     at the Capitol and welcome the members of the city's delegation on

2-24     their visit to Austin; and, be it further

2-25           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be prepared

 3-1     for the members of the Harlingen City Council as an expression of

 3-2     high regard by the Texas Senate.

 3-3                                  ______________________________________

 3-4                                          President of the Senate

 3-5                                       I hereby certify that the above

 3-6                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate

 3-7                                  on March 12, 1997.

 3-8                                  ______________________________________

 3-9                                          Secretary of the Senate

3-10                                  ______________________________________

3-11                                           Member, Texas Senate