1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 181 1-3 WHEREAS, The Gulf of Mexico represents a vital natural 1-4 resource to the people of Texas, the nation, and the international 1-5 community; and 1-6 WHEREAS, Dozens of nations have endorsed the implementation 1-7 of the Global Ocean Observing System, which is being coordinated 1-8 by the United Nations; and 1-9 WHEREAS, The United States Navy and the National Oceanic 1-10 and Atmospheric Administration have encouraged institutions of 1-11 higher education to participate in a localized component of the 1-12 Global Ocean Observing System to be known as the Gulf of Mexico 1-13 Ocean Observing System, comprising a user-oriented, sustained 1-14 observing system, to include observations, analyses, and 1-15 distribution of data and products to institutions of higher 1-16 education and to the public at large; and 1-17 WHEREAS, The Gulf of Mexico Ocean Observing System 1-18 program is designed to provide long-term information leading to 1-19 improved forecasts of ocean currents for such important activities 1-20 as oil-spill tracking, search-and-recovery missions, hurricane path 1-21 predictions, and prediction or assessment of harmful algal blooms 1-22 and their effect on marine life in the Gulf of Mexico; and 2-1 WHEREAS, Texans living along and near the Gulf Coast will 2-2 benefit from this program through its contributions to public 2-3 health, safety, efficiency, and agricultural improvements; and 2-4 WHEREAS, Meteorological data produced by the 2-5 Gulf of Mexico Ocean Observing System will enhance and 2-6 complement similar data to be gathered by a proposed statewide 2-7 observation system to be known as Mesonet; and 2-8 WHEREAS, By participating in the Gulf of Mexico Ocean 2-9 Observing System, Texas and its institutions will be positioned 2-10 at the forefront of a developing global system that will play a 2-11 key role in international affairs; and 2-12 WHEREAS, Having a component of the Global Ocean Observing 2-13 System in the Gulf of Mexico is expected to produce results that 2-14 will be of socioeconomic value to state and local government, the 2-15 private sector, and individual Texans, as well as aid in meeting 2-16 mandatory requirements of various federal regulatory agencies; and 2-17 WHEREAS, Texas A&M University is recognized worldwide for 2-18 its programs in coastal studies, meteorology, agriculture, and 2-19 other scientific fields which will be crucial to the Global Ocean 2-20 Observing System and the Gulf of Mexico Ocean Observing System 2-21 programs; now, therefore, be it 2-22 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-23 77th Legislature, hereby express its support for the Global Ocean 3-1 Observing System and the Gulf of Mexico Ocean Observing System; 3-2 and, be it further 3-3 RESOLVED, That the Senate further express its support for 3-4 participation in the Gulf of Mexico Ocean Observing System by 3-5 Texas A&M University and other institutions of higher education 3-6 in Texas. 3-7 Ogden 3-8 ______________________________________ 3-9 President of the Senate 3-10 I hereby certify that the above 3-11 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 3-12 on February 5, 2001. 3-13 ______________________________________ 3-14 Secretary of the Senate 3-15 ______________________________________ 3-16 Member, Texas Senate