H.R. No. 500


R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, The food we eat, the clothes we wear, the houses in which we live, and the flowers and plants we enjoy all stem from agriculture, and the important role that Texas farmers and ranchers play in the lives of people worldwide often goes unrecognized; and WHEREAS, In this new millennium, Texas farmers and ranchers and their families face ever-increasing challenges, yet they continue to fulfill an enduring legacy, ensuring that people everywhere have an abundant, reliable, and affordable supply of food, natural fiber, and horticultural and other agricultural products; and WHEREAS, Agriculture is the second-largest industry in Texas, generating $14 billion annually for the economy and providing employment for one out of every five Texans; and WHEREAS, Texas leads other states in the production of cotton, cattle, sheep, goats, wool, mohair, and hay and exports approximately $2.5 billion in agricultural products; and WHEREAS, Texas farmers and ranchers grow and produce many of the products used daily by all Texans, including fruits and vegetables; beef, pork, and poultry products; cotton, wool, and mohair for clothing; trees used in making paper; milk for cheese, ice cream, and other dairy products; corn for cereal, breads, and laundry detergent; and animal fats and proteins for toothpaste and crayons; and WHEREAS, Agriculture also plays a major role in water conservation, rural economic development, global trade, and the preservation of the environment; and WHEREAS, Agriculture will continue to meet the basic needs of the world while providing opportunities for progress beyond food and clothing, including advancements in nutrition, medicine, biotechnology, and food safety; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas Legislature hereby recognize March 16-22, 2003, as National Agriculture Week in Texas and urge all Texans to recognize those producers who help add quality to our lives and to the State of Texas. Hardcastle                         Craddick        Giddings        Merritt         Allen        Goodman        Miller         Alonzo        Goolsby        Moreno of Harris         Bailey        Griggs        Moreno of El Paso         Baxter        Grusendorf        Morrison         Berman        Guillen        Mowery         Bohac        Gutierrez        Naishtat         Bonnen        Haggerty        Nixon         Branch        Hamilton        Noriega         Brown of Kaufman        Hamric        Oliveira         Brown of Brazos        Hardcastle        Olivo         Burnam        Harper-Brown        Paxton         Callegari        Hartnett        Pena         Campbell        Heflin        Phillips         Canales        Hegar        Pickett         Capelo        Hilderbran        Pitts         Casteel        Hill        Puente         Castro        Hochberg        Quintanilla         Chavez        Hodge        Rangel         Chisum        Homer        Raymond         Christian        Hope        Reyna         Coleman        Hopson        Riddle         Cook of Navarro        Howard        Ritter         Cook of Colorado        Hughes        Rodriguez         Corte        Hunter        Rose         Crabb        Hupp        Seaman         Crownover        Isett        Smith of Tarrant         Davis of Harris        Jones of Lubbock        Smith of Harris         Davis of Dallas        Jones of Bexar        Smithee         Dawson        Jones of Dallas        Solis         Delisi        Keel        Solomons         Denny        Keffer of Dallas        Stick         Deshotel        Keffer of Eastland        Swinford         Driver        King        Talton         Dukes        Kolkhorst        Taylor         Dunnam        Krusee        Telford         Dutton        Kuempel        Thompson         Edwards        Laney        Truitt         Eiland        Laubenberg        Turner         Eissler        Lewis        Uresti         Elkins        Luna        Van Arsdale         Ellis        Mabry        Villarreal         Farabee        Madden        West         Farrar        Marchant        Wilson         Flores        Martinez Fischer        Wise         Flynn        McCall        Wohlgemuth         Gallego        McClendon        Wolens         Garza        McReynolds        Wong         Gattis        Menendez        Woolley         Geren        Mercer        Zedler         ______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 500 was adopted by the House on March 18, 2003, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House