R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, Nationally, Texas ranks as the second-leading state
 1-2     in agricultural production, providing a vast array of food, fiber,
 1-3     and horticulture products to Texans, to other states, and to
 1-4     countries around the world; and
 1-5           WHEREAS, One in five Texans is employed in some form of
 1-6     agriculture, and agricultural commodities add approximately $14
 1-7     billion to the state's economy, making agriculture the second
 1-8     largest industry in Texas; and
 1-9           WHEREAS, Years of severe drought, dramatic increases in the
1-10     costs of production, and depressed prices have left Texas
1-11     agriculture in a fragile condition; studies show that net farm
1-12     income is likely to drop 20 percent over the next two years,
1-13     squeezing farmers into a corner and threatening Texas' rural
1-14     economies; and
1-15           WHEREAS, Texas agriculture is more dependent than other
1-16     industries on various forms of energy, including diesel to power
1-17     machinery; electricity for animal and crop production operations;
1-18     natural gas for irrigation and to heat crops and livestock; and
1-19     petroleum-based chemicals and fertilizers; and
1-20           WHEREAS, Natural gas prices have increased more than 300
1-21     percent over the last few months, causing many producers to sink
1-22     deeper into debt and forcing some producers out of business; now,
1-23     therefore, be it
1-24           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
 2-1     Legislature hereby encourage natural gas and energy suppliers to
 2-2     negotiate in good faith with agricultural producers to help develop
 2-3     strategies to prevent the disruption of utility services and to
 2-4     preclude the termination of other necessary uses of energy by
 2-5     producers across the state; and, be it further
 2-6           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 77th Texas
 2-7     Legislature hereby encourage energy suppliers to forgive any
 2-8     penalties, fees, interest, or finance charges relating to late
 2-9     payments or disruption of service, or to negotiate with consumers
2-10     to provide payment plans for these penalties, fees, interest, or
2-11     finance charges.
                                   Christian                        Swinford
                                   Lewis of Orange                    Hawley
                                   Brown of Kaufman                    Green
                                   Hardcastle                           Hope
                                   Hupp                            Kolkhorst
                                   McReynolds                         Miller
                                   Williams
                                             _______________________________
                                                   Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.R. No. 359 was adopted by the House on April
         20, 2001, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House