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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The national effort to beautify the country's |
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highways began in earnest with Lady Bird Johnson, wife of President |
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Lyndon B. Johnson; thanks to her strong leadership and initiative, |
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the 89th United States Congress passed the Highway Beautification |
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Act of 1965; and |
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WHEREAS, Lady Bird Johnson's vision of a more beautiful |
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America was further advanced by the passage of the federal Surface |
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Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act (STURAA) in |
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1987; sponsored by U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen of Texas, the act |
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included the requirement that one-quarter of one percent of federal |
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funds expended for highway system landscaping must be used to plant |
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wildflowers; and |
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WHEREAS, This dedication of federal highway funds for |
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wildflower plantings has made it possible for states to plant |
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wildflowers on thousands of acres of highway rights-of-way; in |
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addition to being an important part of each region's identity, |
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these native plants are adapted to area rainfall conditions and |
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generally require less maintenance than nonnative species; and |
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WHEREAS, The Texas Department of Transportation has taken |
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full advantage of STURAA and Lady Bird Johnson's leadership on |
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roadside beautification to create inspiring wildflower landscapes |
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along Texas highways and allow millions of Texans to enjoy the |
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natural beauty of native plants and gain an appreciation for the |
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state's natural heritage; and |
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WHEREAS, Helping state and county transportation departments |
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utilize native plants and wildflowers along highway roadsides was |
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also a top priority in 1982 when Lady Bird Johnson founded the |
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organization now known as the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center |
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at The University of Texas at Austin; and |
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WHEREAS, Twenty-five years later, the Lady Bird Johnson |
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Wildflower Center remains a leader in promoting the use of native |
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plants and wildflowers for highway system landscaping, and it is |
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fitting that the center's 25th anniversary coincides with the 20th |
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anniversary of STURAA; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize the 20th anniversary of the federal |
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Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act and |
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the 25th anniversary of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at |
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The University of Texas at Austin; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives also recognize |
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Lady Bird Johnson's lasting contributions to the beauty and |
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ecological health of highway roadsides in the state and nation and |
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the Texas Department of Transportation's national leadership in |
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integrating wildflower plantings into state highway system |
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projects; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives encourage |
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further collaboration between the Texas Department of |
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Transportation and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center to |
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create one or more demonstration roadside wildflower projects, |
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raise awareness about Texas wildflowers, and enhance state efforts |
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to showcase the beauty and ecological importance of Texas |
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wildflowers; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the chief clerk of the Texas House of |
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Representatives forward official copies of this resolution to the |
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executive directors of the Texas Department of Transportation and |
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the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at The University of Texas |
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at Austin. |
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Bolton |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1959 was adopted by the House on May |
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23, 2007, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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