By McReynolds                                          H.R. No. 215
         77R5837 MMS-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, The Texas Forestry Association is a nonprofit trade
 1-2     association whose members have a vested interest in the forest
 1-3     industry and the economic viability of the State of Texas; and
 1-4           WHEREAS, With more than 12 million acres of forestland in
 1-5     Texas, the forest industry plays a major role in the state's
 1-6     economy as timber is its third most valuable agricultural
 1-7     commodity; and
 1-8           WHEREAS, The forests of Texas provide over 91,000 jobs for
 1-9     Texans, with an annual payroll of more than $2.3 billion and,
1-10     overall, the annual economic impact of Texas forests on the state
1-11     amounts to more than $22 billion; and
1-12           WHEREAS, The forest industry and nonindustrial, private
1-13     landowners desire to maintain sustainable forests for future
1-14     generations and, to that end, they replenish the state's
1-15     forestlands by planting more than 100 million seedlings each year;
1-16     and
1-17           WHEREAS, In order to increase public awareness of forestry,
1-18     members of the Texas Forestry Association are distributing 5,500
1-19     hardwood seedlings near the south steps of the State Capitol on
1-20     this day; and
1-21           WHEREAS, The Texas Forestry Association contributes
1-22     enormously to the economic vitality of the state and is endeavoring
1-23     to ensure that future generations will continue to enjoy all the
1-24     benefits that Texas forests can provide; now, therefore, be it
 2-1           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
 2-2     Legislature hereby honor the members of the Texas Forestry
 2-3     Association for their reforestation  efforts and extend to them
 2-4     best wishes for continued success with this worthy goal; and, be it
 2-5     further
 2-6           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
 2-7     prepared for the Texas Forestry Association as an expression of
 2-8     high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.