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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Small businesses, whether product manufacturers or |
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service providers, contribute significantly to the nation's |
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economy, generating half of the United States' gross domestic |
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product, employing half of the nation's workforce, and creating |
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most of the net new jobs in our country; small businesses also boost |
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the economy through patents that introduce new technologies and |
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innovations that develop new markets; and |
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WHEREAS, The engine of Texas' economic performance is largely |
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driven by its small businesses; in 2003 the number of small |
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businesses in Texas was estimated to be more than 1.7 million, |
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representing 98.6 percent of the employing firms in Texas; |
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moreover, this sector of business continues to grow in size and in |
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its significance to the Texas economy; and |
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WHEREAS, The Capitol grounds display statues, memorials, and |
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commemorations of people, events, and ideals that express the |
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unique characteristics that define our state; Chapter 443, |
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Government Code, authorizes the State Preservation Board to |
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preserve, maintain, and restore the Capitol grounds and requires |
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proposals to construct a monument or other improvement to the |
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Capitol Complex to be submitted to the board for review; and |
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WHEREAS, Reminiscent of the frontier settlers of the Lone |
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Star State, the entrepreneurs who start and own small businesses |
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undertake the risk of such an enterprise with courage and |
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determination; this spirit, with its significant impact on the |
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well-being of our state, is truly worthy of public tribute; and |
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WHEREAS, Members of the Texas Legislature find a |
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commemorative monument in honor of the contributions made by small |
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businesses in Texas to be a worthy addition to the Capitol grounds; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 80th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby authorize the State Preservation Board, subject to state law |
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and rules of the board, to approve and permit the construction of a |
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new monument on the Capitol grounds honoring the contributions that |
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small businesses have made to the State of Texas; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That no public funds be used for the design and |
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construction of the monument and that the State of Texas not |
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facilitate fund-raising nor establish a state fund for the deposit |
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of money raised for the design and construction of the monument; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward an |
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official copy of this resolution to the executive director of the |
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State Preservation Board. |