By Brown of Brazos H.R. No. 254 77R6425 CCK-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Dozens of nations have endorsed implementation of 1-2 the Global Ocean Observing System, a promising and challenging 1-3 scientific enterprise that is being coordinated by the United 1-4 Nations; and 1-5 WHEREAS, The United States Navy and the National 1-6 Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration have encouraged 1-7 appropriate institutions of higher education to participate in a 1-8 localized component of that system to be known as the Gulf of 1-9 Mexico Ocean Observing System; and 1-10 WHEREAS, The Gulf of Mexico project comprises a 1-11 user-oriented, sustained observing system that will include 1-12 observations, analyses, and distribution of data and products for 1-13 varied uses to colleges and universities, governmental entities, 1-14 and the public at large; and 1-15 WHEREAS, Resultant long-term information will contribute to 1-16 improved forecasts of ocean currents that will, in turn, assist in 1-17 important activities such as oil spill tracking, 1-18 search-and-recovery missions, hurricane path predictions, and the 1-19 assessment of harmful algal blooms and their effects on Gulf marine 1-20 life; and 1-21 WHEREAS, Meteorological data produced by the Gulf of Mexico 1-22 Ocean Observing System will enhance and complement similar data to 1-23 be gathered by a proposed statewide observation system to be known 1-24 as Mesonet; and 2-1 WHEREAS, The Gulf of Mexico represents a vital natural 2-2 resource to Texas, the nation, and the international community, and 2-3 having a Gulf component of the global system should yield knowledge 2-4 that will be of socioeconomic value to both the public and private 2-5 sectors and to individual Texans, as well as assist in meeting 2-6 mandatory requirements of federal regulatory agencies; and 2-7 WHEREAS, Texans living along and near the Gulf Coast will 2-8 benefit from the program through its contributions to public 2-9 health, safety, efficiency, and agricultural stimulus, and through 2-10 their active participation, Texas and its educational institutions 2-11 will be positioned at the forefront of a developing global effort 2-12 that can play a key role in international affairs; and 2-13 WHEREAS, Texas A&M University, which is recognized worldwide 2-14 for its programs of excellence in coastal studies, meteorology, 2-15 agriculture, and other scientific fields, will prove crucial to the 2-16 success of both the Gulf of Mexico Ocean Observing System and the 2-17 larger Global Ocean Observing System; now, therefore, be it 2-18 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas 2-19 Legislature hereby express its support for the Global Ocean 2-20 Observing System and the Gulf of Mexico Ocean Observing System; 2-21 and, be it further 2-22 RESOLVED, That the Texas House of Representatives further 2-23 express its support for participation in the Gulf of Mexico Ocean 2-24 Observing System by Texas A&M University and other Texas 2-25 institutions of higher education.