SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 221

WHEREAS, February 16 through 20, 2009, is being celebrated as Texas Technology Week in order to increase public awareness of the extraordinary achievements of these industries and the vital role they play in the prosperity of the Lone Star State; and

WHEREAS, Sponsoring Texas Technology Week are TechAmerica, the Texas Healthcare and Bioscience Institute, TechNet Texas, the Metroplex Technology Business Council, the Texas Association of Business, the Texas Coalition for Capital, and the Solar Alliance; and

WHEREAS, The technology and life-sciences industries and research institutions of Texas are achieving leading-edge advances in medicine, space exploration, computing, communications, energy, and transportation, revolutionizing the world we live in; within the state, these industries employ more Texans than do the oil, natural gas, and agriculture industries combined, and their high-wage, highly skilled jobs contribute to a diverse and growing economy; and

WHEREAS, People around the globe have benefitted immeasurably from the medical treatments and devices developed by Texas companies, and the Texas Healthcare and Bioscience Institute, whose membership includes research institutions, regional economic development entities and communities, and biotechnology, medical device, and pharmaceutical companies, acknowledges that in 2006, one of almost every 23 U.S. biotechnology employees worked in Texas; nine recipients of biotechnology-related Nobel Prizes, National Medals of Science, or National Medals of Technology are based in this state; in 2007, the National Institutes of Health awarded more than $1 billion in grants and awards to entities in the State of Texas; and Texas biotechnology-related patent growth is outpacing the national average; and

WHEREAS, The life-sciences industry constitutes a significant pillar of the Texas economy, including approximately 3,200 establishments employing over 85,400 Texans, with the promise of continued job growth for many years to come; and

WHEREAS, TechAmerica, the nation's largest high-technology trade group, reports that Texas ranks second in the country in high-tech employment, with some 459,000 jobs, and 56 of every 1,000 private sector workers in our state are employed by high-tech firms; moreover, Texas ranks second among all states in terms of its high-tech employment, and ninth among all the states in terms of its high-tech average wage, a wage nearly double that of the average private sector worker, which allows the industry to provide an aggregate high-tech payroll of $37.5 billion; the importance of this industry to Texans is further underscored by the fact that high-tech product exports exceed $35.9 billion and account for 21 percent of the state's international exports; and

WHEREAS, All sectors of the high-technology and life-sciences community are joining together this week to discuss the major issues facing their industries and to affirm their support for a strong system of public and higher education, a critical factor in providing the highly skilled workforce on which these industries depend; and

WHEREAS, The technology and life-sciences industries have become a tremendous engine of economic growth in the State of Texas, and the benefits of their research and production enrich people the world over; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 81st Legislature, hereby recognize February 16 through 20, 2009, as Texas Technology Week and commend its sponsors for their outstanding efforts in promoting research, development, products, services, and manufacturing in the State of Texas; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in honor of Texas Technology Week.

Shapiro

________________________________

President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on February 18, 2009.

________________________________

Secretary of the Senate

________________________________

Member, Texas Senate