1-1                                     1                                  
 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 182
 1-3           WHEREAS, The Ocean Drilling Program, a project of the
 1-4     National Science Foundation, has contributed to significant
 1-5     advances in understanding the dynamic and changing nature of
 1-6     the earth's crust, its relation to the overlying oceans, and
 1-7     its connection to global-scale climate changes; and
 1-8           WHEREAS, Texas A&M University, through its College of
 1-9     Geosciences, has served in the role of Science Operator for
1-10     the Ocean Drilling Program since 1984 and has had responsibility
1-11     for an annual budget of over $38 million in National Science
1-12     Foundation funds; and
1-13           WHEREAS, The State of Texas has directly benefitted from
1-14     the results of this program through the development of deep-sea
1-15     drilling technology which has immediate transfer value to
1-16     exploration and development of petroleum resources in the deep
1-17     Gulf of Mexico; and
1-18           WHEREAS, The Ocean Drilling Program will be succeeded by
1-19     the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program beginning September 1, 2003,
1-20     and is projected to have funding levels of $100-$120 million per
1-21     year; and
1-22           WHEREAS, Texas A&M University intends to compete for the
1-23     role of Science Operator of the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program,
 2-1     including continuation of its leading role in the oceanographic
 2-2     community through membership in the Consortium for Ocean Research
 2-3     and Education and the Joint Oceanographic Institutions, which
 2-4     currently serve as the National Science Foundation's contracting
 2-5     agent for the Ocean Drilling Program; now, therefore, be it
 2-6           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
 2-7     77th Legislature, hereby recognize the valuable scientific
 2-8     and economic contributions the Ocean Drilling Program has
 2-9     made to the general body of scientific knowledge in the
2-10     fields of oceanography, petroleum geology, and other areas
2-11     of geoscience; and, be it further
2-12           RESOLVED, That the Texas Senate hereby recognize that these
2-13     contributions have and will continue to have great economic and
2-14     environmental impact upon the quality of life for the people of
2-15     the State of Texas, the United States, and the world; and, be it
2-16     further
2-17           RESOLVED, That the Senate hereby express its support of the
2-18     efforts of Texas A&M University in seeking designation as the
2-19     Science Operator for the new Integrated Ocean Drilling Program.
2-20                                                                   Ogden
2-21                                  ______________________________________
2-22                                          President of the Senate
2-23                                       I hereby certify that the above
2-24                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
2-25                                  on February 5, 2001.
2-26                                  ______________________________________
2-27                                          Secretary of the Senate
2-28                                  ______________________________________
2-29                                           Member, Texas Senate