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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The cruise operations in the homeports of Galveston |
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and Houston have an enormous economic impact on Texas; together, |
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the cities hosted some 680,000 passenger and crew visits in 2007, |
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which accounted for $1.07 billion in direct spending; in addition, |
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the industry was responsible for generating over 18,500 Texas jobs |
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and paying $893 million in wage income; and |
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WHEREAS, South of Galveston, between Calhoun and Cameron |
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Counties, Texas is home to several growing cities, robust tourism, |
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and a wealth of natural resources; the area also hosts three major |
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deepwater ports, any of which might be a viable site for a cruise |
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line headquarters or a port of embarkation; and |
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WHEREAS, Florida and California, respectively, benefit the |
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most from the North American cruise industry; both states currently |
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operate five ports, including Port Canaveral, Port Everglades, |
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Jacksonville, Miami, and Tampa in Florida, and Los Angeles, Long |
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Beach, San Diego, San Francisco, and Oakland in California; an |
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additional Texas cruise ship port between Calhoun and Cameron |
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Counties could offer an attractive vacation option for a |
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significant portion of the state's residents and be an economic |
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boon to the state as a whole; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby request the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house |
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of representatives to provide for a joint interim legislative study |
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regarding the development of a cruise industry on the Texas coast |
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between Calhoun and Cameron Counties and its potential economic |
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impact; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the committee's proceedings and operations be |
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governed by such general rules and policies for joint interim |
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committees as the 81st Legislature may adopt. |