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