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