S.C.R. No. 18 




SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
	WHEREAS, In recognition of both the direct and indirect 
revenues that could be generated for the state by a robust wine 
industry, Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst charged the Senate 
Committee on Intergovernmental Relations of the 78th Legislature to 
study and make recommendations relating to the development of the 
Texas wine industry, assess the impact of state and federal laws on 
the shipment and delivery of wine, and make recommendations for 
increasing the economic impact of the wine industry in Texas; and
	WHEREAS, The Senate Committee on Intergovernmental Relations 
found that Texas has all the elements necessary to be a competitive 
force in the national and international wine industries; the Texas 
wine industry could prove to be a stellar economic generator for the 
state, and with the proper policies in place, the industry is 
positioned to boom within the next five to 10 years; and
	WHEREAS, Although progress has been made through the years, 
insufficient funding and budget reductions for new and existing 
education, training, and research hinder the development of the 
industry; moreover, the lack of a consistent, coordinated, and 
centralized effort among industry stakeholders and public policy 
makers to develop appropriate programs and policies, to explore, 
develop, and access relevant funding streams, and to communicate 
concerns and needs to appropriate parties impedes the development 
of this industry to its full potential; and
	WHEREAS, Two independent studies have recently confirmed the 
genetic origin of the glassy-winged sharpshooter in Texas; this 
finding makes Texas a natural laboratory for the study of Pierce's 
disease and its vector, the glassy-winged sharpshooter, which 
impact the viability of grape and wine industries throughout the 
nation, and the dedication of new revenues to this research would 
facilitate research of benefit to all wine-producing states; and
	WHEREAS, In addition, there are a number of federal programs 
and funding streams that could be accessed to promote the Texas wine 
industry, and alerting the Texas congressional delegation to the 
potential value of the Texas wine industry and its needs would 
greatly benefit the industry and the entire state; now, therefore, 
be it
	RESOLVED, That the 79th Legislature of the State of Texas 
hereby respectfully request the members of the Texas delegation to 
the United States Congress to recognize the importance of the 
emerging Texas wine industry and to work to secure funding and other 
assistance available at the federal level to support the protection 
and growth of the Texas wine industry; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That the legislature hereby respectfully request 
the members of the Texas delegation to the United States Congress to 
specifically seek funds in the amount of $2 million for each year of 
the following five-year period for grant funding through the United 
States Department of Agriculture and the Animal Plant and Health 
Inspection Service to conduct Pierce's disease research in Texas; 
and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official 
copies of this resolution to all the members of the Texas delegation 
to the Congress of the United States of America.






______________________________    ______________________________
President of the Senate             Speaker of the House
	I hereby certify that S.C.R. No. 18 was adopted by the Senate 
on May 3, 2005.




______________________________ 
   Secretary of the Senate             
	I hereby certify that S.C.R. No. 18 was adopted by the House 
on May 25, 2005.




______________________________ 
   Chief Clerk of the House            



Approved:


______________________________ 
            Date



______________________________ 
          Governor