R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Bill Summers and the Rio Grande Valley Partnership 1-2 conducted the highly successful "Legislative Visit to the Valley" 1-3 on February 11-14, 1999, and he and all the members of this 1-4 distinguished organization are truly worthy of special recognition; 1-5 and 1-6 WHEREAS, A Valley native, Mr. Summers has served as president 1-7 and CEO of the Rio Grande Valley Partnership since November 1987, 1-8 and through his guidance the organization has directed numerous 1-9 projects that have substantially benefitted all the residents of 1-10 the Valley region, greatly improving the area's economy and quality 1-11 of life; and 1-12 WHEREAS, The "Legislative Visit to the Valley" is an event 1-13 that has been held since the mid-1970s, and through the 1-14 contributions of the many Valley businesses and hosts it affords 1-15 members of the Texas Legislature the chance to get acquainted with 1-16 Valley citizens and to witness firsthand both the invaluable assets 1-17 of the region and its unlimited opportunities for development and 1-18 advancement; and 1-19 WHEREAS, Other major activities of the partnership include 1-20 securing funding for the Highways to the Future project, which will 1-21 designate U.S. 281 and U.S. 77 as a portion of the future I-69 1-22 highway, which will stretch from Mexico to Canada, and the One MSA 1-23 for the Valley project, which is working to combine the two Valley 1-24 Metropolitan Statistical Areas; in addition, on January 29, 1999, 2-1 the organization opened its second office in Mexico to further 2-2 enhance business development and promote dialogue with state 2-3 officials and agencies; and 2-4 WHEREAS, The civic leadership provided by Bill Summers and 2-5 the Rio Grande Valley Partnership throughout the years has been 2-6 truly invaluable to the betterment of the Rio Grande Valley, and it 2-7 is indeed a privilege to honor them at this time; now, therefore, 2-8 be it 2-9 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas 2-10 Legislature hereby honor Bill Summers and the Rio Grande Valley 2-11 Partnership for conducting the "Legislative Visit to the Valley" 2-12 and extend to them sincere best wishes for continued success and 2-13 happiness; and, be it further 2-14 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-15 prepared for Bill Summers and the Rio Grande Valley Partnership as 2-16 an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. Wise _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 422 was adopted by the House on April 8, 1999, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House