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SENATE RESOLUTION
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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 |
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President Lyndon B. Johnson; thanks to her strong leadership and |
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initiative, the 89th Congress of the United States passed the |
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Highway Beautification 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 |
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Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance Act of |
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1987 (STURAA); sponsored by United States Senator Lloyd Bentsen |
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of Texas, the Act included the requirement that one-quarter of |
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one percent of federal funds expended for highway system |
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landscaping must be used to plant 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 the federal Surface Transportation and Uniform |
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Relocation Assistance Act of 1987 and Lady Bird Johnson's |
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leadership on roadside beautification to create inspiring |
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wildflower landscapes along Texas highways and allow millions of |
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Texans to enjoy the natural beauty of native plants and gain an |
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appreciation for the state's natural heritage; and |
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WHEREAS, Helping state and county transportation |
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departments utilize native plants and wildflowers along highway |
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roadsides was also a top priority in 1982 when Lady Bird Johnson |
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founded the organization now known as the Lady Bird Johnson |
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Wildflower Center 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 |
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20th anniversary of the federal Surface Transportation and |
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Uniform Relocation Assistance Act of 1987; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 80th |
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Legislature, hereby recognize the 20th anniversary of the |
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federal Surface Transportation and Uniform Relocation Assistance |
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Act of 1987 and the 25th anniversary of the Lady Bird Johnson |
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Wildflower Center at The University of Texas at Austin; and, be |
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it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate also recognize Lady Bird |
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Johnson's lasting contributions to the beauty and ecological |
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health of highway roadsides in the state and nation and the Texas |
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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 Senate encourage further collaboration |
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between the Texas Department of Transportation and the Lady Bird |
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Johnson Wildflower Center to create one or more demonstration |
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roadside wildflower projects, raise awareness about Texas |
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wildflowers, and enhance state efforts to showcase the beauty and |
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ecological importance of Texas wildflowers; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the secretary of the senate forward |
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official copies of this resolution to the executive directors of |
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the Texas Department of Transportation and the Lady Bird Johnson |
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Wildflower Center at The University of Texas at Austin. |