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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Barge transportation and the inland waterways are of |
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vital importance to the movement of cargo in the United States; over |
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1.2 billion tons are hauled annually along the nation's system of |
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shallow draft channels; and |
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WHEREAS, Inland barge traffic, where feasible, is among the |
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most energy-efficient modes of transporting bulk commodities, |
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yielding approximately 500 ton-miles of goods shipment per gallon |
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of fuel, as opposed to 200 ton-miles and 60 ton-miles for rail and |
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truck traffic, with associated advantages in terms of reduced |
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hydrocarbon and other emissions; and |
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WHEREAS, Along the Gulf Coast of Texas, one of the most |
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valuable such shallow draft arteries is the Victoria Barge Canal, |
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which extends approximately 35 miles from the Gulf Intracoastal |
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Waterway at San Antonio Bay to the Pickering Turning Basin south of |
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the city of Victoria; and |
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WHEREAS, Completed in 1968, with a navigable depth of nine |
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feet and a width of 100 feet, the canal underwent improvement |
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between 1995 and 2002, by which it was enlarged to a depth of 12 feet |
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and a width of 125 feet, matching the parameters of the Gulf |
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Intracoastal Waterway; and |
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WHEREAS, The Port of Victoria, located with its industrial |
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park at the inland terminus, combines with other facilities along |
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the canal to contribute 9,000 jobs, generate $1.2 billion in annual |
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revenue, and produce over $52 million each year in state and local |
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taxes derivative of marine terminal activity; and |
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WHEREAS, Ideally situated for purposes of intermodal |
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shipments, the canal and port have proximity to Houston, San |
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Antonio, and Corpus Christi and serve as a convenient hub with links |
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to Union Pacific and other railroads and to U.S. Highways 59, 77, |
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and 87, as well as I-10, I-37, and I-35; and |
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WHEREAS, Historically, the Victoria Barge Canal has been |
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maintained and dredged by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; federal |
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funding for such purposes is secure through fiscal year 2007, but |
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not for fiscal year 2008 or thereafter because of an inexplicable |
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spending cut by the U.S. Congress; and |
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WHEREAS, Continued federal support for the facility is vital |
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to its operation and serves worthy goals of transportation |
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efficiency, regional and state economic vitality, and commercial |
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trade both domestically and with our international neighbors; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 80th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby respectfully urge the Congress of the United States to |
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restore federal maintenance and dredging funds for the Victoria |
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Barge Canal for fiscal year 2008 and beyond; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official |
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copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to |
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the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the |
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senate of the United States Congress, and to all the members of the |
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Texas delegation to the congress with the request that this |
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resolution be officially entered in the Congressional Record as a |
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memorial to the Congress of the United States of America. |