78R11157 JNC-D

By:  Laney                                                        H.R. No. 716



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, A West Texas city with a rich history and the promise 
of a flourishing future, Big Spring is indeed worthy of a grand 
celebration, and the Texas House of Representatives takes great 
pride in recognizing Big Spring Area Day, April 9, 2003, at the 
State Capitol; and
	WHEREAS, Big Spring moves into the future as the Crossroads 
of West Texas with the thriving McMahon-Wrinkle Airport and 
Industrial Park, home to a host of companies serving regional, 
national, and international markets; and
	WHEREAS, A regional hub for health care, Big Spring is home to 
the Big Spring State Hospital, West Texas Centers for Health/Mental 
Retardation, West Texas Veterans Administration Health Care 
Systems, Scenic Mountain Medical Center, Covenant Malone-Hogan 
Clinic, and Lamun-Lusk-Sanchez State Veterans Home; and
	WHEREAS, The area maintains a vital oil and gas, farming, and 
ranching industry and recognizes the importance of diversifying the 
economic base from the primary to the secondary and tertiary  
sectors of the economy in establishing industries such as 
teleservices, petroleum refining and plastics, and composites 
manufacturing; and
	WHEREAS, Institutions of higher learning such as Howard 
College and South West Collegiate Institute for the Deaf provide 
essential programs for a skilled workforce, and students from the 
Big Spring, Coahoma, and Forsan Independent School Districts are 
encouraged to acquire skills needed to meet future workforce needs 
through Career Day and Next Generation Day; and
	WHEREAS, Promoting improvement within the community, Big 
Spring offers affordable housing in the recently constructed 
Limestone Ridge apartment complex and by renovations of houses in 
Howard County through the Fresh Start Program, under the direction 
of the Crossroads Community Housing Development Board and in 
conjunction with Howard College, Moore Development for Big Spring, 
Inc., and the Workforce Network; and
	WHEREAS, Big Spring prides itself on recognizing the worth 
and dignity of every human being and continues to meet the needs of 
its citizens through exciting job opportunities, recreation, and 
education, ensuring a vital and prosperous quality of life; now, 
therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature hereby recognize April 9, 2003, as Big Spring Area Day 
at the Capitol and extend best wishes to the citizens of Big Spring 
for a most successful Big Spring Area Day at the State Capitol.