By:  Madla, Estes                                               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, Lt. Governor Dewhurst charged the Senate Committee on 
Intergovernmental Relations Committee of the 78th Legislature to 
study and make recommendations relating to the development of the 
Texas Wine producing 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 
producing 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 producing industry could prove to be a stellar economic 
generator for the state of Texas; with the proper policies in place, 
the Texas wine producing industry is positioned to boom within the 
next 5 to 10 years; although progress has been made throughout the 
years, insufficient funding and budget reductions for new and 
existing education, training, and research hinder the development 
of the industry; and the lack of a consistent, coordinated, and 
centralized effort among industry stakeholders and public policy 
makers to develop appropriate programs and policies; explore, 
develop and access relevant funding streams; and communicate 
concerns and needs to appropriate parties impedes the development 
of this industry to its full potential;
	WHEREAS, Two independent studies have recently confirmed the 
genetic origin of the glassy-winged sharpshooter is Texas; and
	WHEREAS, Texas is a natural laboratory for the study of 
Pierces' disease and its vector, the glassy-winged sharpshooter, 
which impact the viability of grape and wine industries throughout 
the nation; and
	WHEREAS, The dedication of new revenues to this research will 
facilitate research to benefit all wine-producing states;
	WHEREAS, There are a number of federal programs and funding 
streams that could be accessed to benefit the Texas wine industry; 
and
	WHEREAS, It would be beneficial for the Texas wine industry 
and the State to make the Texas Congressional Delegation aware of 
the potential value of the industry and its needs; now, therefore be 
it
	RESOLVED, That the 79th Legislature of the State of Texas 
hereby respectfully request the members of the Texas Delegation of 
the United States Congress to recognize the importance of the 
emerging Texas wine industry and work to secure funding and other 
assistance available at the federal level to support the protection 
and growth of the Texas wine industry; and, therefore be it further
	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 specifically seek amounts of $2 
million for each year of the following five-year period for grant 
funding through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) 
and the Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) for 
Pierce's Disease research in Texas; and therefore 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.