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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, For more than 10 years, the volunteer organization |
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Friends of Big Bend National Park has supported, promoted, and |
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raised funds for this beloved Texas landmark; and |
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WHEREAS, From the spectacular Boquillas and Santa Elena |
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Canyons of the Rio Grande to the pinyon, oak, and juniper-covered |
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slopes of the Chisos Mountains to the austere beauty of the |
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Chihuahuan Desert, Big Bend National Park is a treasure of the Lone |
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Star State and one of the jewels of the National Park system; |
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encompassing over 800,000 acres, this striking landscape draws more |
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than 300,000 visitors each year, offering peerless opportunities |
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for day hikes, backcountry exploring and camping, birding, and |
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sightseeing; and |
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WHEREAS, In recent years, many nonprofit grassroots |
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organizations have been formed across the country to promote and |
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protect individual national parks; when longtime Big Bend visitors |
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Lori Palmer and Russ Jewert discovered in 1995 there was no such |
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group for Big Bend, they met with park staff and began a process |
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that culminated with the incorporation of the Friends of Big Bend |
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National Park in 1996; and |
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WHEREAS, Today the 19 members of the FBBNP board of directors |
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work in partnership with the National Park Service to support and |
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preserve Big Bend and to enhance the experience of the park's |
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visitors; through the years, the organization has donated $575,000 |
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to the park for trail maintenance, wildlife research projects, air |
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and water quality measuring equipment, and the expansion and |
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renovation of exhibits at the Panther Junction Visitor Center; and |
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WHEREAS, Supporting its initiatives through membership dues |
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and the sale of Big Bend National Park specialty Texas license |
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plates, the group also sponsors two popular annual fund-raising |
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events, the Big Bend Ultra Run and the Ride for Trails Motorcycle |
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Rally; and |
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WHEREAS, The Friends of Big Bend National Park have performed |
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an invaluable service through their efforts to maintain and protect |
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this magnificent natural resource for the continued enjoyment of |
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current and future generations; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor the members of the Friends of Big Bend |
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National Park for their invaluable contributions to Big Bend and |
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extend to them best wishes for continued success with their |
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important work; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the organization as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |